Alaves vs. Celta Vigo: 2017 Spanish Copa del Rey Leg 2 Score, Reaction
Feb 8, 2017
Celta Vigo's Argentinian defender Facundo Roncaglia (L) vies with Deportivo Alaves' Brazilian forward Deyverson Silva during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) semi final second leg football match Deportivo Alaves SAD vs RC Celta de Vigo at the Mendizorroza stadium in Vitoria-Gasteiz on February 8, 2017. / AFP / ANDER GILLENEA (Photo credit should read ANDER GILLENEA/AFP/Getty Images)
Alaves booked their spot in the 2016-17 Copa del Rey final on Wednesday, as the Basques beat Celta Vigo 1-0 in the second leg of their tie thanks to a goal from substitute Edgar Mendez.
The first match remained scoreless, leaving the aggregate score at 1-0.
Wednesday's match was played at a great pace, and both teams had their chances. But Alaves took control of the ball toward the end of the game.
Edgar struck three minutes after his 79th-minute introduction in place of Gaizka Toquero, and Celta were unable to respond. Barcelona await the Basque side in the Copa final, which will take place on May 27.
Celta Vigo again kept Giuseppe Rossi and John Guidetti on the bench, with Iago Aspas playing as the main striker.
As The Spanish Football Podcast shared, the home fans were in superb form for the match:
Alaves barely threatened during the first leg, and as expected, Vigo again came out of the gates firing on Wednesday. The hosts played a more positive brand of football as well, and the early action was furious.
Toquero stole the show for the Basques, while Deyverson saw more of the ball than he did in Galicia, and the forward powered the first chance of the match wide.
VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 08: Manuel Garcia Sanchez (L) of Deportivo Alaves competes for the ball with Pablo Hernandez (R) of RC Celta de Vigo the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg match between Deportivo Alaves and RC Celta de Vigo at Estadio
The high pace continued, with Alaves pressing up the pitch, and Aspas and Gustavo Cabral drew two saves from goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco in quick succession. The stopper remained active, denying Aspas again minutes later.
A dangerous foul on Deyverson gave Alaves a free-kick from a promising position, and as sports writer Sid Lowe shared, Ibai Gomez went close to giving his side the lead:
Huuuuy! Tasty free kick from Ibai Gomez clips bar. (Yes Eee By Gum Ez)
As the half wore on, the intensity did not decrease, and unsurprisingly, several incidents occurred on the pitch. A cynical foul on Victor Camarasa led to a skirmish, with several players getting involved.
Aspas tried to beat Pacheco with an ambitious lob but just missed the target, and Zouhair Feddal headed wide after a smart cross. Daniel Wass powered a free-kick well over the bar before another incident halted play.
Deportivo Alaves' midfielder Manuel Alejandro (R) vies with Celta Vigo's Chilean midfielder Pablo Hernandez during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) semi final second leg football match Deportivo Alaves SAD vs RC Celta de Vigo at the Mendizorroza stad
Both Feddal and Aspas were booked after the two clashed, with the latter furious that he received a yellow card. Despite the stoppages, the official blew the half-time whistle straight away, sending both teams to the dressing rooms to cool off.
Lowe was loving the action:
HT. 0-0. Noisy, quick, and fun despite relatively few chances
Alaves took control of the ball to start the second half, and this time, Ibai threatened the most. Hugo Mallo did well to keep out a sharp cross, and Marcelo Diaz could only stop Toquero by fouling him, costing him a yellow card.
Mallo made another last-ditch slide to break up an attack, and Deyverson fired a volley wide. Lowe thought the hosts were making inroads:
Alaves making chances here... Very tense, very exciting
Fouls and stoppages were plentiful and kept breaking up the momentum. Aspas and Wass kept threatening as well, although both struggled to stay onside at times.
Ibai drew a save from Sergio Alvarez with a fine drive, and Deyverson also kept the stopper busy.
Deportivo Alaves' midfielder Ibai Gomez (L) vies with Celta Vigo's defender Hugo Mallo during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) semi final second leg football match Deportivo Alaves SAD vs RC Celta de Vigo at the Mendizorroza stadium in Vitoria-Gaste
Vigo introduced Pione Sisto in the search for a late goal with 16 minutes still to play. The change had an immediate effect, and Pacheco showed his reflexes to deny Wass.
A goal seemed imminent, and Edgar delivered with eight minutes left to play. Camarasa did well to play the substitute in, and the winger didn't falter in front of goal.
Lowe reacted to the action:
It had been coming. Alaves deserved that. What a good team they are.
Guidetti entered the pitch to spearhead Celta's final offensive, but the visitors barely mustered any chances. Alaves wasted as much time as possible with substitutions, and Pacheco also required some treatment, leading to over seven minutes of injury time. The home side held on, however, booking their spot in the final.
Alaves' next La Liga outing will be against Barcelona on Saturday, while Celta Vigo will play Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
