Third round

Close calls in almost all of the Spanish cup games played today, with six of the eleven matches ending in penalty shoot outs and a seventh going to extra time. Under the new structure, five of the ties were between teams from the second division A, and there were penalty wins for Málaga and Alavés against two neighbouring sides, Almería and Poli Ejido. Almería and Málaga had drawn 0-0 after extra time, but only because Goitia had put in a great performance in the visiting goal and Bermejo had missed a penalty, but the visitors came away with the win after Crusat hit the post with his spot kick. Poli Ejido and Alavés ended 1-1, Mikel Rico equalising Wesley's earlier strike before the break, and although Jandro missed one penalty, Moreno and Cristian missed the last two for the home side.

Hércules manager José Bordalás relieved some of the pressure with a 2-0 victory over Las Palmas. Both goals came late on, Turiel getting the first from Montenegro's assist and Piti the second on a breakaway. Cádiz coach Oli is in deeper trouble though after his side lost for the second time in four days to Castellón. Romero got the only goal early in the second half following a free kick. Elsewhere Valladolid beat Elche 0-1 thanks to a controversial penalty, Javi Baraja converting the kick a quarter of an hour from the end after Toché was fouled. All will be in next Monday's draw which includes first division sides for the first time.

The big prizes in the fourth round though await the six lower division sides who won through. They will be seeded to face six of the top flight clubs who are playing in Europe, with Barcelona and Real Madrid the ones everybody wants. With so much at stake all the games were closely fought, with three ties ending in penalties. Rayo Vallecano won 5-4 in a shoot out with Puertollano after the match ended without goals, keeper Javi Muñoz saving one penalty from Borrallo and scoring one himself. Badalona also won 7-6 against Universidad Las Palmas after Relaño saved Aitor's kick, although the Catalans thought they had already won it with a Lezaun goal in extra time before a hotly disputed last second Angel Sánchez penalty made it 1-1. And Écija are through after their game with Eibar ended 0-0, winning it 5-4 in the shoot out.

There will be two sides from the regional third division in the draw, including Gimnastica Segoviana, who drew 2-2 at Burgos before Arregi missed the sixth penalty for the home side. Ramírez put the visitors ahead, but Serrano and Goria turned the scoreline around before a Mariano strike took the game to penalties. Peña Sport at least had a more comfortable ride though, the Navarra based side beating Alcoyano 2-0 with goals midway through the first half from Murillo and Joseba. Racing Portuense were only promoted from the third division themselves last season, and they made it through to the fourth round after beating Linares 1-0, Merino heading the only goal in extra time. (04.10.06)