The Copa del Rey already has its two finalists for the 22/23 season. Barça and Cartagena will see each other this Sunday (20:00, TDP) in a fratricidal duel with the title at stake. The azulgrana beat a combative Palma who misses out on another title option. The Balearic team, which previously played in the Spanish Cup and had entered this Cup Final Four, will have to wait to get their first title because Barça, great favorite and dominator of the tournament, with seven gimped, he brought down Vadillo’s team (5-1), who saw from the stands due to suspension as his team fell. Lozano, in the final stretch of the game, withdrew in tears, fearing a new serious injury in his career.
Ortiz, the incombustible captain, opened the can by masterfully defining a counter, while Catela, who continues to grow within the team, he scored the second before the break. Just upon returning from the locker room, Tayebi closed the gap on a penalty… but Palma quickly took on fouls. What they feared happened: the shots from ten meters, and with Ferrao, insurance, bad business. The Brazilian scored two double-penalties to make it 1-4, and Pito, almost at the buzzer, scored the fifth. At the end of the game, the entire pavilion chanted Lozano. Hopefully it’s as little as possible. Meanwhile, Palma now transfers its illusions to the League and the Final Four of the Champions League, which it will also play in front of its fans. For its part, Barça, knocked out of the Champions League and after losing in the semifinals of the Spanish Cup, and after winning the Super Cup, is ‘obliged’ to win the Super Cup. part as a favourite.
Cartagena put an end to Peñíscola’s dream
Unlike the three other teams that make up the Final Four in Antequera, Peñíscola was the only one not in the First Division, something striking… but that, within the merit that it has, it sounds even normal, being the current champion UMA Antequera, now in First Division but in May 2022 champion was proclaimed in a magical edition while still a Second team. Then, it ascended, a path similar to that of Peñíscola, that the year that in a few months (in the absence of mathematical confirmation) it will return to the highest category. And they caressed the pass to the Copa del Rey final against Cartagenabut the penalty shootout separated them from their dream.
“We believe that, even if it’s Barça, Jimbee or Palma, we can beat anyone”, said Pani, one of his stars, in the previous one, and they lacked little. In one minute the course of the match changed, because the people from Castellón reached the 19th minute with a brilliant 3-0 scoreline after goals from Juanqui, Elías and Plaza. They were playing almost perfectly… and before the break, Cartagena’s reaction arrived. Two plays, two goals: Juanan and Lucao restored hope to those of Duda. almost without realizingthe people from Cartagena were fully involved in the match again.
At the restart, Cristián scored the fourth when Peñíscola suffered the most… and Mínguez, with a great goal, made it 4-3. There were eleven minutes left of siege, defenses, counters… and with 29 seconds to go, and with the goalkeeper-player shirt, Motta sent the game to penalties. In the shootout, Cartagena did not miss any and their goal, Raúl Jérez, stopped the final one with his face. It hurt, but it was worth it (5-4 on penalties). The second final in its history (after the 2006 League) already one step away from his first title.