MATCH REPORT: First win of 2021 to advance in Copa del Rey (1-4)

Valencia CF were back in Copa del Rey action on Thursday 7th of January against Yeclano Deportivo at 7 pm kick-off time at La Constitución which was the first game that Valencia CF  played with public in the stands since March last year. 

 Valencia CF made a perfect start to the first half with two quickfire goals minutes into the first half. Kang In turned it in after brilliant work down the wing from Gonçalo Guedes who slipped it into Thierry Correia who picked up Manu Vallejo he scuffed it and Kang In was alive to turn it in to give Valencia CF an early lead. 

Shortly after, Uroš Račić put Valencia CF doubled Valencia CF’s advantage from a brilliant free-kick delivery from outside the area which took a deflection off the wall and in it went past a stranded Gianni Cassaro.   

Rubén Sobrino came close to making it three over the quarter-hour mark following a great Toni Lato cross but his effort flew over the crossbar. 

However, persistence paid dividends later on following a delightful link-up play between Kang In who sold the dummy to his marker and let the ball roll for Manu Vallejo who squared into Sobrino who stabbed it home from close range to make it three.  

 Manu Vallejo came close to adding his name on the scoresheet but Gianni Cassaro denied the Cádiz born forward with a smart low stop on in the closing minutes of the first half at La Constitución.   

The first half finished with Valencia CF with a healthy three-goal lead over Yeclano Deportivo at the interval.  

Roles switched right after the restart with Yeclano Deportivo reducing the deficit two minutes inside the second half through Alberto Oca who fired it past Cristian Rivero to make it 1-3 to Yeclano Deportivo.  

Valencia CF restored their three-goal advantage Thierry Correia slotted it home following wonderful work down the wing. An all-Portuguese exchange which released Thierry Correia who broke into the box and fired it home across the keeper to make it four for Valencia CF. 

Javi Gracia made a double substitution on the hour mark Jason Remesseiro and Vicente Esquerdo came on to replace two of the goalscorers in the manner of Kang In and Uroš Račić respectively. 

The home side forced Cristian Rivero into a superb save to Pedro’s powerful effort and then he gobbled up Luis Castillo’s effort on the acrobatic soon after as the ball went straight into his hands.   

Rubén Sobrino came tantalisingly close to making it five after meeting a great Gonçalo Guedes cross but his header went narrowly wide of the wrong side of the post with 15 minutes plus stoppage time left to play at La Constitución. 

The opposition kept on working Christian Rivero who was producing a fine array of saves to keep the scoreline at 1-4.    

The remainder of the tie was played out with no further incidents ad Valencia CF came away with a morale-boosting win to take back into domestic action at the weekend as they advance in the Copa del Rey. 

Valencia CF will visit Real Valladolid CF on Sunday 10th of January at the Estadio Municipal José Zorrilla at 9 pm kick-off time (CET) in a must-win fixture on Matchday 18 of LaLiga Santander.   

Match Details: 

1. Yeclano Deportivo: Gianni, Manu Castillo (Puche, 46’), Chino, Alberto Oca (Luispa, 75’), Álex Vaquero (Carlos Felipe, 62’), Tonete (Fenoll, 46’), Pedro, Ayoze, Karim, Christian (Iker Torre, 63’) and Gastón. 

4. Valencia CF: Cristian Rivero, Thierry Correia, Kevin Sibille, Mangala, Lato (Gayà, 76’), Koba Leïn (Carlos Soler, 82’), Uros Racic (Esquerdo, 61’), Guedes, Manu Vallejo, Kang In (Jason, 61’) and Sobrino. 

Goals: 0-1 Kang In, 7’; 0-2 Racic, 9’; 0-3 Sobrino, 35’; 1-3 Alberto Oca, 46’; Thierry Correia, 53’. 

Referee: Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea.  Booked Álex Vaquero, Manu Castillo, Alberto Oca and Thierry Correia. 

 Observations: Second Round of the Copa del Rey held at La Constitución in Yecla, Murcia.