Madrid, Feb 12 (DPA) Atletico Madrid stumbled into the final of the Spanish King’s Cup despite losing 2-3 to a spirited Racing Santander in an interesting semi-final second leg.
Atletico go into their first final since 2000 on a 6-3 aggregate, having thrashed Santander 4-0 Feb 4 at home.
“We relaxed too much toward the end and let them back into the game,” said Atletico left-back Antonio Lopez after Thursday’s win.
“But even so, it’s really good to have got to the final. That’s exactly what we have been trying for.”
In the final, scheduled for May 26, Atletico will face Sevilla, who edged through Wednesday against Getafe on a 2-1 aggregate.
In chilly Santander, the crowd’s hopes of a miracle were encouraged when, after just three minutes, Atletico defender Juan Valera headed a corner into his own goal.
But the tie was as good as over just six minutes later, when Santander’s Jose Moraton scored a clumsy own goal of his own, turning a free-kick from Jose Antonio Reyes into his own net.
Jose Manuel Jurado made it 2-1 to Atletico in the 52nd minute with a cool finish. But the visitors relaxed toward the end, and typically sloppy defending from Atletico allowed Xisco and Mohamed Tchite to score the late goals that gave Santander an empty victory.
rounak