Second round

Matches played on 14th September

The second round of the Copa del Rey kicked off this week, with two of the seventeen ties brought forward to Wednesday night. Under the hastily rearranged format, the ten second division sides who survived the first round will all play away against lower division teams who came through the qualifying round, with the remaining fixtures made up of the other lower division teams on a random basis. The winners of this round will be joined by the eleven first division clubs who did not qualify for European competitions, with matches to be played over one leg in October.

There was already a surprise in the opening games though, second division A leaders Ciudad Murcia being knocked out after losing 2-1 to Baza, who were only just promoted to the second division B this season. Both goals for the Granada based side came from ex Almería striker Aldo Adorno, the Paraguayan forward opening the scoring early in the first half following a corner and adding a second eight minutes from the end. Córdoba controversially pulled one back in the dying moments, the local players claiming the ball didn't cross the line, but in the end it didn't matter as the game finished soon afterwards.

Gimnastic Tarragona had no problems though dealing with Córdoba, who were relegated last season to the second division B. The Catalans ran out 0-3 winners, Diego Torres putting them into the lead in the twentieth minute when he headed Cuéllar's cross past Sebas. Codina extended the lead soon after the restart after good work by Pinilla, and Bolo wrapped things up with a third goal in injury time. (14.09.05)

Matches played on 15th September

Lleida followed their Catalan neighbours Nàstic into the third round with a 0-2 win over Lemona. The Basque side put up a good fight in the first half, Oscar having to clear off the line from Urrutia after he lifted a shot over Rangel, and the keeper saving from Parri later on. But eventually experience paid off, Eneko Romo taking advantage of a mistake by keeper Zigor to put the visitors ahead following a corner, and Luiz Carlos wrapping things up with his first goal for his new club in injury time.

Two late goals by Mario Bermejo saved the day for Albacete at Mérida. The Manchegans took the lead ten minutes before the break when David Bauzá headed Santamaría's cross past Moisés, but the home side turned the scoreline around with goals either side of half time, the first from Papadopoulos following a free kick and the second from Belencoso, following up after Rubén Martín saved a penalty. Bermejo popped up twice though after that to restore the lead and ensure a place in the third round for his side.

Racing Ferrol are out of the competition however after falling 3-0 to second division B side Alcoyano. There was nothing to choose between the two sides for the first hour or so, until the locals brought on Angel, who was making his debut for his side. And he inspired them to score three times in the last quarter of an hour, with Juanjo scoring twice in three minutes and Barselleta finishing things off in the third minute of injury time.

Xerez went through to the next round with a comfortable 2-4 victory at Alcalá. Pedro Ríos started things off with an angled shot in the eighth minute, and Granero beat keeper Gabri with a well struck free kick soon afterwards. When Guille made it three with a deflected shot on the half hour mark it seemed to be all over, but the home side produced a spirited fightback, Isach converting a penalty and Oya taking advantage of slack defending to close the gap to one goal before the interval. Guille put the result beyond reach though with his second goal of the night after the restart.

A surprise in the Canary Islands, where Tenisca, the only third division side left in the competition, beat Real Murcia in a thrilling penalty shootout after the match finished 0-0. The Tenerife based club could have gone ahead in the first half when Olave saved a Richard penalty after Diego Alonso handled in the area. But eventually it went to a shoot out, and although Olave saved the first kick by Moisés, misses by Sierra, Héctor and Mariano Fernández took the home side through.

Penalties as well at Águilas, although this time it was the higher ranked team Numancia who made it through. The second division A side took the lead in the third minute when Tevenet beat Melli with a well struck free kick, and they appeared to be holding on until Antoñan made it 1-1 with a deflected shot five minutes from the end to take the game into extra time and then penalties. Numancia converted all their kicks though, and when substitute keeper Duro fired his kick over the top it was all over.

Eibar needed extra time to beat Ceuta 0-1, Solabarrieta heading the winner eight minutes from the end to knock the side from the North African enclave out of the competition. The on loan Athletic Bilbao youth international could have wrapped things up in the first half though had his free kick not rattled the crossbar, but after that there were few chances for either side before the winning goal.

Recreativo Huelva were the fourth second division A side to fall in the second round after losing 2-0 to Alicante in extra time, and only six will now go forward to the third round. The Andalusians only troubled local keeper Regero once in the first ninety minutes, a shot by Viqueiro which struck the bar, and the East coast side could have wrapped things up before Alvaro headed them into the lead following a corner. Two minutes later their Brazilian striker Cacá took advantage of a hesitant defence to make it two and secure the result.

Probably the most attractive tie of the round though was between two sides who have seen better days, Rayo Vallecano winning through 1-0 against Oviedo thanks to an injury time header from substitute Geni, who used to play for the Asturians earlier in his career. Both teams hit the post earlier on, Yeray for the visitors and De Gomar for the Madrileños, but it was Michel's side who advanced to the third round in the end.

Las Palmas also go into the hat for the third round draw after beating Almansa 1-2 in extra time. It was a bad tempered game, with the locals ending with ten men and the visitors with eight. The Albacete based side took the lead through Pepín just before the break, but with midfielder Aday in goal after their keeper was sent off, Nauzet equalised in injury time. And despite having two men less, Javi Martel scored the winner near the end.

Curiously all of the sides relegated from the second division A last season were knocked out. The vagaries of the new system meant that all four entered at this stage, but after Córdoba lost the day before, the other three followed. Salamanca were beaten 3-1 by Burgos, who also played in the higher divisions earlier in their jagged history. Martín Tártara and gómez put the home side ahead with two first half penalties, and Obolo added a third before Víctor Blanco got a late consolation.

Terrassa were beaten by the new Logroñes CF, who changed their name this season from Recreatión after the original CD Logroñes got into financial difficulties. The Catalans took the lead through Andrés, but goals from Adrián, Zúriga and Del Puente turned the scoreline around. An injury time Jonathan penalty made it 2-3 in the end with the side from Rioja down to ten men, but it was already too late. And Pontevedra lost 2-0 to L'Hospitalet, a controversial Uceda penalty putting the Barcelona based side ahead in the first half and Toni Mora adding the second after the restart.

Ten second division B sides will be in the draw for the next round, including Real Unión, who beat Basque rivals Portugalete 0-1. Both clubs had threatened legal action after the competition was changed, but in the end they had to make do with a tie against each other rather than a top flight club. The local fans complained that the referee turned down two penalty appeals and sent off one of their players, but their team lost to an early strike from Sergio Francisco. Zamora are also through after a 1-0 win over Villajoyosa, Xaco getting the only goal late in the first half. (15.09.05)