In a crowded penalty area, William Carvalho demonstrated the finesse that would make most top strikers proud. The Real Betis midfielder, surrounded by defenders, calmly executed a skillful nutmeg, sliding the ball between the legs of the opposing defender before composedly slotting a low shot into the back of the net. This decisive goal secured a 2-1 victory for Betis over Rayo Vallecano in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals on Wednesday, positioning the Sevilla club to potentially return to the final for the first time since 2005.
The second leg is scheduled to take place in Sevilla on March 3, with Athletic Bilbao hosting Valencia in the first leg of the other semifinal on Thursday.
Rayo took an early lead five minutes into the match at Vallecas Stadium with a close-range header by Alvaro Garcia. Betis responded in the 26th minute, as forward Borja Iglesia unleashed a low shot from outside the area to level the score.
Carvalho’s match-winning moment occurred in the 68th minute, showcasing his deft footwork to maneuver past Rayo defender Alejandro Catena and contribute the second goal of the season for the Portuguese midfielder.
While Betis claimed its second Copa title in 2005, the team has not secured a major trophy since then. The introduction of veteran Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini in 2020 has rejuvenated the squad, currently sitting third in the Spanish league and advancing to the knockout rounds of the Europa League.
Rayo, in its first Copa semifinals since 1982, is aiming to reach the final for the first time in its history. The modest Madrid club, known for its strong home record, had nine wins and only one loss in 12 matches at Vallecas Stadium, with only one defeat in its last 10 home encounters against Betis in all competitions.
Despite the introduction of Colombian veteran striker Radamel Falcao in the 62nd minute, Rayo couldn’t secure a better result. Betis had been in good form, winning four consecutive matches with a goal difference of 14-2, before a recent league loss to Villarreal. The team faced stadium sanctions due to a fan’s misconduct in the Copa match last month, resulting in the closure of a section of Benito Villamarin Stadium. The suspended game was eventually resumed behind closed doors a day later.
