Barcelona's unbeaten streak ends
Source: Agencies |
January 21, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
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REAL Betis snapped Barcelona's club record unbeaten run at 28 with a 3-1 victory in the Copa del Rey but the Spanish champion still reached the semifinals after winning the series 6-3 on aggregate.
Jorge Molina scored twice within seven minutes of the start of Wednesday's return leg to give the fans at Benito Villamarin Stadium some hope.
Betis managed to keep Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez from linking until the 38th minute when the Argentina forward held off two defenders to gather Xavi's pass and slip a shot through goalkeeper Casto Espinosa's legs. It was Messi's 32nd goal of the season in all competitions.
Messi failed to make it 33 after shooting a penalty over the goal in the 54th and Arturo "Arzu" Garcia re-established the two-goal lead after swinging to volley a poorly cleared ball past goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto.
"Being from the second division it was a privilege to play against Barcelona," Molina said.
"The idea was to make the most of it and I think the supporters enjoyed it tonight," he added.
The second-division leaders avenged a lopsided loss at the Camp Nou, where Barcelona suffered its last defeat: A 2-0 league loss to Hercules on September 11.
Almeria awaits Barcelona in the final four after beating Deportivo La Coruna 3-2 to reach the semifinals for the first time after winning the series 4-2 on aggregate. The last time the two clubs met Barcelona scored a record 8-0 victory.
In England, Arsenal advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 victory over second-tier club Leeds on Wednesday.
Samir Nasri, Bacary Sagna and Robin van Persie scored the goals that set up a meeting with Huddlesfield on January 30.
Former Arsenal trainee Bradley Johnson scored a consolation goal for Leeds in the third-round replay just before halftime, striking from 25 meters past goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
"We wanted to start really strongly. We scored after five minutes and tried to play our game even though the pitch was difficult," Nasri said. "We want to win every competition and this cup is important to us."
Arsenal is chasing its first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2005, but manager Arsene Wenger made six changes from the side that beat West Ham on Saturday to keep the team third in the Premier League.
Arsenal struggled against Leeds at home in a 1-1 draw this month and lost 1-0 in the first leg of its League Cup semifinal against Ipswich last week.
Jorge Molina scored twice within seven minutes of the start of Wednesday's return leg to give the fans at Benito Villamarin Stadium some hope.
Betis managed to keep Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez from linking until the 38th minute when the Argentina forward held off two defenders to gather Xavi's pass and slip a shot through goalkeeper Casto Espinosa's legs. It was Messi's 32nd goal of the season in all competitions.
Messi failed to make it 33 after shooting a penalty over the goal in the 54th and Arturo "Arzu" Garcia re-established the two-goal lead after swinging to volley a poorly cleared ball past goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto.
"Being from the second division it was a privilege to play against Barcelona," Molina said.
"The idea was to make the most of it and I think the supporters enjoyed it tonight," he added.
The second-division leaders avenged a lopsided loss at the Camp Nou, where Barcelona suffered its last defeat: A 2-0 league loss to Hercules on September 11.
Almeria awaits Barcelona in the final four after beating Deportivo La Coruna 3-2 to reach the semifinals for the first time after winning the series 4-2 on aggregate. The last time the two clubs met Barcelona scored a record 8-0 victory.
In England, Arsenal advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 victory over second-tier club Leeds on Wednesday.
Samir Nasri, Bacary Sagna and Robin van Persie scored the goals that set up a meeting with Huddlesfield on January 30.
Former Arsenal trainee Bradley Johnson scored a consolation goal for Leeds in the third-round replay just before halftime, striking from 25 meters past goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
"We wanted to start really strongly. We scored after five minutes and tried to play our game even though the pitch was difficult," Nasri said. "We want to win every competition and this cup is important to us."
Arsenal is chasing its first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2005, but manager Arsene Wenger made six changes from the side that beat West Ham on Saturday to keep the team third in the Premier League.
Arsenal struggled against Leeds at home in a 1-1 draw this month and lost 1-0 in the first leg of its League Cup semifinal against Ipswich last week.
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