Top News
Real Madrid avoids another early Copa del Rey exit
(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-11-11 10:00
 |
Large Medium Small |
MADRID - Real Madrid avoided another embarrassing Copa del Rey exit to a lower-tier club with a 5-1 fourth-round victory over Murcia on Wednesday.
|
 Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his goal during their Spanish King's Cup soccer match against Murcia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid November 10, 2010. [Photo/Agencies] |
After a scoreless first leg, Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero curled Pedro Leon's pass into the top of the goal from long range in the fourth minute to put his team ahead. Gonzalo Higuain made it 2-0 in the 44th.
| ||||
"The people of Madrid will be satisfied because we have left behind the history of Real Union and Alcorcon _ and we played well and had fun," said coach Jose Mourinho, referring to the third-division teams which knocked out Madrid in the past two seasons.
Mourinho forced several fans from their seats in the front row of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium after being sent from the touchline in the 39th minute.
"When I was sent off I knew that I could not stay in my place and I had to look for the best place possible," the Portuguese coach said. "I didn't have a problem."
Higuain made up for a close-range miss by doubling the advantage and Madrid came out strong after the break with Ronaldo's entrance.
Benzema hit the crossbar in the 61st and the attacking push continued after Angel Di Maria came on in the 70th to find Ronaldo from the left side for the Portugal forward to score his 13th goal of the campaign.
Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa was shown his second yellow card in the 82nd and, moments later, Alonso handled inside the area for Murcia pull one back through Pedro Sanchez's penalty.
But Benzema scored his second of the campaign _ and first since September 21 _ from a penalty in the 85th after Di Maria was pulled down, and Alonso added the last in the 89th.
Barcelona, the record 25-time champion, smashed Ceuta 5-1 to advance 7-1 on aggregate, but lost defender Gabriel Milito to a leg injury.
Manuel "Nolito" Agudo started Barcelona's scoring spree in the third minute, while Milito also scored in the first half. Guzman Casaseca struck Ceuta's lone goal in the first half after teammate Vitor Moreno had been sent off to leave the third-tier club with 10 men.
Pedro Rodriguez, Bojan Krkic and Lionel Messi, a second-half substitute who scored his 17th goal of the campaign, all found the net in the second half.
United States striker Jozy Altidore scored his second goal of the two-legged series to help Villarreal to a 2-0 win over Poli Ejido and advance 3-1 overall. Jefferson Montero hit a first half goal at El Madrigal stadium.
Defending champion Sevilla routed Real Union 6-1 to go through 10-1 over two legs, while Atletico Madrid drew 1-1 with Universidad de Las Palmas to go through 6-1 on aggregate.
Real Betis joined fellow second-division club Cordoba in the next round after beating Zaragoza 2-1 to advance on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate score.
Betis went ahead in the 12th on an own goal by Matteo Contini before Jiri Jarosik put Zaragoza back ahead again two minutes later.
But Ruben Castro slotted home Arturo "Arzu" Garcia's pass in the 35th to seal the second division leader's progression.
Athletic Bilbao, Levante, Deportivo La Coruna, Almeria and Espanyol also advanced.
Cordoba eliminated Racing Santander on away goals Tuesday. Four games Thursday wrap up the fourth round.