Abel Ruiz and Pyshchur Send Girona Past Cuarte in Copa del Rey

Girona secured a 2–0 victory against Tercera RFEF side CD Cuarte to advance to the second round of the Copa del Rey, relying on a professional display on an artificial pitch on Wednesday. Goals from Abel Ruiz and Oleksandr Pyshchur settled a testing knockout tie that required squad rotation and careful management without the aid of VAR.

Quique Alvarez Rotates Squad to Protect Players

Acting from the technical area, coach Quique Alvarez overhauled his starting lineup following the weekend league win against Celta Fortuna, retaining only defender Juanpe Francés from the previous fixture. The experimental side featured young academy products Gibi, Junior, Furtado, and Lass alongside less-frequent league contributors such as Jhon Solís, Donny van de Beek, Abel Ruiz, Pyshchur, and goalkeeper Vladyslav Krapyvtsov. Playing lower-division opponents on artificial turf demanded patience rather than attacking flair, as the visiting side prioritized securing progression over entertainment value.

Abel Ruiz Breaks Deadlock Before Halftime

The tactical approach yielded an early breakthrough in the 23rd minute when Abel Ruiz met a precise cross from Lass down the left flank to steer the ball past the home defense. Without VAR in operation at the lower-tier venue, Girona weathered a pair of first-half penalty appeals and defensive scares, including an offside call on Tapia that Krapyvtsov managed to parry. Van de Beek pushed for a second goal before the interval, testing the woodwork with a late run from midfield and heading narrowly wide.

Oleksandr Pyshchur Seals Second-Round Berth

Girona controlled the tempo after the restart, utilizing overlapping runs from fullbacks Furtado and Gibi to limit Cuarte’s counterattacking chances. Pyshchur scored after a corner when Van de Beek provided a header, extending the lead. The strike marked the Ukrainian forward’s first competitive goal for the club. Krapyvtsov preserved the clean sheet in the closing minutes with a sharp save from a Rami header, ensuring Girona’s safe passage into the next round.

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