Valencia Comeback Shocks Sevilla In Copa Del Rey

Valencia came back from 1-2 down to pick up a priceless first-leg lead against Sevilla, as they won 3-2 at the Mestalla, courtesy of goals from David Villa, Rubén Baraja and Juan Mata.

The home side looked as though they were out of the match when Adriano scored a controversial second for his side, that was at least a metre offside, but they fought back well, scoring twice in two minutes late on to change the picture of this tie.

Earlier, Villa had given Valencia the lead after just five minutes, but Luis Fabiano had levelled the match with a goal just after half-time, before the late drama left Los Che in the driving seat.

First-Half

Unlike their game in the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán this encounter started at quite a pace, with David Silva looking menacing down the left flank in the opening minute. However, despite the promising start from the home side, they took the lead thanks to Sevilla, and an awful back-pass from Adriano. The Brazilian attempted to find his goalkeeper with the ball back, but instead picked out Villa, who dragged Andrés Palop wide and passed it into the net and under him.

It was the perfect start for Valencia, and they continued to dominate the game, not giving Sevilla any space up front. Indeed, it took until nearly the twentieth minute for stand-in goalkeeper, Guaita, to make a save, when Luis Fabiano tested him from distance. The only bad news for Valencia was that Villa had to go off after appearing to pick up a thigh injury, to be replaced by Fernando Morientes.

The veteran Spaniard very nearly finished off a lovely move started down the left with Emiliano Moretti and Silva too, but the ball was a few feet from his head. Valencia continued to dominate proceedings and Joaquín was growing in stature and confidence down the right, taking on Fernando Navarro and beating him regularly, nearly setting up Vicente for a goal in the process, but his shot was blocked by Sebastién Squillaci.

The only outlet Sevilla had was Fabiano, but he was well marshalled by the Valencia defence, as the Andalucian side struggled to create much before the half-time whistle.

Second-Half

At the break Manolo Jiménez decided to shake things up by throwing on Diego Capel for Jesus Navas, and the winger had an immediate impact. First he put a ball into the box that Renato very nearly volleyed home, and then he created the equaliser for his side. From the right the Spaniard chipped into the box, onto the head of Fabiano, who beat Guaita to the ball, and headed home, to level the score in the Mestalla.

Just like Valencia had got off to a perfect start in the first-half, Sevilla had in the second, and they looked like a different side with Capel. The winger offered them more pace down the wing, and more skill cutting inside, but even so, Valencia should have taken the lead again minutes after going level. Silva burst down the left flank and pulled the ball back on the penalty spot, only for Vicente to blast over the bar with the ball sitting perfectly.

The game was becoming more and more open and Sevilla took the lead with just twenty minutes left, as Adriano atoned for his earlier back-pass by scoring at the other end. Renato was the creator as he pierced the defence with a first time pass, leaving the Brazilian to finish pass Guaita, but the goal left the Valencia players fuming, and not surprisingly. When the ball was played Adriano was about a metre offside, however, the linesman did not raise his flag, leaving the home side to protest, with a couple players picking up bookings.

Valencia could not find a way into the match either, as Sevilla pressed for a third and surely tie winning goal, with Capel delivering some more telling crosses from the right wing. However, with time running out, the home side did grab their equaliser, as Rubén Baraja received a short pass from Juan Mata, skipped around two challenges into the box, and fired across Palop into the corner.

Things got even better for the home side too, as just a few minutes later they took the lead. This time Mata was the scorer as Romaric failed to clear a cross from Joaquín, slicing it across his box, where Mata was, to drill across goal, and with the help of a deflection, over Palop and into the net. It was a sensational turn around for Valencia and Sevilla could not find another way back into the match, as the home side ran out winners on the night.

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James Walker-Roberts, Goal.com