Messi sparkles as Barcelona beats Betis
Source: Agencies |
January 14, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LIONEL Messi celebrated his second straight Ballon d'Or award by scoring a hat trick on Wednesday in Barcelona's 5-0 win over Real Betis in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.
With the victory, Barcelona extended its unbeaten streak to 27 matches, equaling a club record.
Earlier, Alexis Ruano scored in the 88th minute as defending champion Sevilla rallied for a 3-3 draw at Villarreal in the first leg.
Messi, who took the Ballon d'Or prize ahead of teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez on Monday, was honored before the first-leg match at the Camp Nou stadium. The Argentina forward then showed why he was voted world player of the year.
Barcelona broke through against a composed Betis side in the 44th minute, Iniesta playing Messi through in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Casto Espinosa, who was caught off his line and beaten by a lifted shot.
Espinosa and Barcelona goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto stood out in the first half with a number of important stops, but the Betis 'keeper could do little in the 64th. After making a reaction save to deny Messi, the rebound fell for the forward to slide the ball under him into the goal.
Inter advances
Messi completed his hat trick in the 73rd, beating the offside trap to reach Xavi's pass before shooting past Espinosa for his 31st goal of the season in all competitions.
Espinosa was helpless in the 76th despite making a save from Daniel Alves, who tapped the loose ball back for Pedro Rodriguez to send into the top of the net for his 15th goal of the season.
Substitute Seydou Keita jumped high to head home in the 83rd.
Alves said any debate over Messi's Ballon d'Or triumph had been comprehensively settled.
"I think today any debate over who deserved the Ballon d'Or was settled. (Messi) deserves it," the Brazil international said.
In Milan, Italy, Samuel Eto'o scored twice as Inter Milan defeated Genoa 3-2 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Italian Cup.
With the victory, Barcelona extended its unbeaten streak to 27 matches, equaling a club record.
Earlier, Alexis Ruano scored in the 88th minute as defending champion Sevilla rallied for a 3-3 draw at Villarreal in the first leg.
Messi, who took the Ballon d'Or prize ahead of teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez on Monday, was honored before the first-leg match at the Camp Nou stadium. The Argentina forward then showed why he was voted world player of the year.
Barcelona broke through against a composed Betis side in the 44th minute, Iniesta playing Messi through in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Casto Espinosa, who was caught off his line and beaten by a lifted shot.
Espinosa and Barcelona goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto stood out in the first half with a number of important stops, but the Betis 'keeper could do little in the 64th. After making a reaction save to deny Messi, the rebound fell for the forward to slide the ball under him into the goal.
Inter advances
Messi completed his hat trick in the 73rd, beating the offside trap to reach Xavi's pass before shooting past Espinosa for his 31st goal of the season in all competitions.
Espinosa was helpless in the 76th despite making a save from Daniel Alves, who tapped the loose ball back for Pedro Rodriguez to send into the top of the net for his 15th goal of the season.
Substitute Seydou Keita jumped high to head home in the 83rd.
Alves said any debate over Messi's Ballon d'Or triumph had been comprehensively settled.
"I think today any debate over who deserved the Ballon d'Or was settled. (Messi) deserves it," the Brazil international said.
In Milan, Italy, Samuel Eto'o scored twice as Inter Milan defeated Genoa 3-2 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Italian Cup.
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