For the first time since 2005, Betis win the Spanish Cup again – both times with 40-year-old Joaquin on the pitch. In the penalty shoot-out against Valencia, a 19-year-old lost his nerve – an ex-Schalker kept it.
At the Olympic Stadium in Seville, Betis got off to the better start with ex-Dortmund Marc Bartra. A neat attack down the right gave Betis the lead: Bellerin crossed accurately to Borja Iglesias, who had little trouble heading home from close range to make it 1-0 (11th).
There was little to be seen from Valencia offensively, but in the 30th minute the flash of inspiration followed: Diakhaby won the ball deep in his own half on the right, the leather landed with Ilaix Moriba via two stations. The Leipzig loanee’s perfect pass was then converted by Hugo Duro with a clever lob over the onrushing keeper Bravo.
Just before the break, Betis came close to scoring a second goal in a game that was now intense and evenly matched. Canales was allowed to walk 15 metres in front of the goal and take his measure, the post saved the careless Valencia from falling behind again.
But Betis were also lucky. In the 53rd minute, Gaya failed to hit the keeper Bravo from an acute angle, Hugo Duro got a leg on the ball rather involuntarily, but missed the Betis box by a hair’s breadth. Bordalas’ side had the upper hand for the next few minutes, while Pellegrini’s team was almost exclusively occupied with defensive tasks.
Betis squander a succession of great chances
Betis had one Borja Iglesias, though. The attacker was the most eye-catching player on the pitch, his assist to Juanmi in the 67th minute tongue-lolling. Valencia’s goalkeeper Mamardashvili prevented the shot from going in with a foot save that was also worth seeing. In the 80th minute, it was Juanmi again who measured from 17 metres – as in the first half, the aluminium helped Valencia.
At the latest after the great chances of Iglesias (83rd) and especially Fekir (85th), the Gün-whites would have deserved the lead again. But since Soler also failed to score against keeper Bravo, the game went into extra time – now with 40-year-old Betis veteran Joaquin, who had already played a part in the last title win in 2005.
In extra time, however, very little happened, with both teams shying away from the final risk. So the penalty shoot-out had to decide. Joaquin just missed, Mamardashvili had guessed the corner. Musah, who only came on as a substitute in the 100th minute, was 19 years old, but his nerves failed him and he shot over. The ex-Schalker Miranda converted safely shortly afterwards and made the title win for Betis perfect!
