Real Madrid exit cup despite Raul hat-trick Posted on November 12th
MADRID, Spain (AP) — Eneko Romo’s last-minute goal propelled third-division Real Union past a stunned Real Madrid to advance to the last 16 of the Copa del Rey on away goals on Tuesday.
Raul scored a second leg hat-trick but still saw Real Madrid eliminated from Spain’s Copa del Rey.
Raul’s hat trick led Madrid to a 4-3 victory, but Romo’s 90th-minute header put the Basque club through on away goals with the aggregate score level at 6-6.
Raul looked to have put Madrid through in the 86th when Union goalkeeper Edouard misplayed the Madrid striker’s long pass into the area for the ball to bounce under him.
Madrid, who have not won the Spanish knockout competition since 1993, twice rallied from deficits at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Alberto Bueno, who plays for Madrid’s youth team, fired a powerful shot over Edouard into the far corner of goal to put Madrid ahead for good in the 68th with his first senior score.
Paul Abasolo had given the Basque club the initiative 14 minutes in after controlling Pablo Garcia’s high cross to half-volley under Madrid goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.
Raul drew Madrid even in the 36th after catching out Edouard with a header, but Union went ahead again in the 49th when Asier Salcedo slipped his marker to go clear through and score from Manu Garcia’s long ball.
Raul rallied Madrid again two minutes later after getting a toe out to score from Javier Saviola’s centering pass.
Madrid’s leaky defense have allowed six goals in their past two games.
Villarreal, Sevilla and Racing Santander must score home victories this week to avoid exiting alongside Madrid.
Villarreal has the toughest task with a 5-0 scoreline to overcome against third-division Polideportivo Ejido on Wednesday, while Santander is 2-1 down to second-division Murcia.
Sevilla must reverse a 1-0 deficit to Ponferradina on Thursday, when Osasuna and Getafe also meet after a 0-0 first-leg draw.
League leader Barcelona holds a 1-0 lead over third-division Benidorm, while defending champion Valencia beat Portugalete 4-1. Both play on Wednesday as well as Atletico Madrid, which has a 1-0 lead over Orihuela.
In Wednesday’s other fourth-round games, it’s: Valladolid vs. Hercules; Almeria vs. Rayo Vallecano; Espanyol vs. Celta Vigo; Real Betis vs. Castellon; Deportivo La Coruna vs. Elche; Sporting Gijon vs. Numancia; Mallorca vs. Malaga; and Athletic Bilbao vs. Recreativo Huelva.
Lyon and Auxerre were the biggest top division casualties of the French League Cup round of 16 matches on Tuesday as they lost 3-1 and 2-0 to Second Division sides Metz and Vannes respectively.
Auxerre — who have won just one of their previous seven matches in all competitions — followed fellow First Division side Valenciennes in becoming scalps for Vannes.
Vannes, who are unbeaten at home this season, will now face Metz in the quarterfinals.
The other top flight outfit to lose to lower league opposition on Tuesday were struggling Sochaux, who went down 1-0 to Second Division Lens for whom defender Ala Eddine Yahia scored the decisive goal with a header in the 109th minute.
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