Match Report: VCF pull off late comeback in Copa del Rey opener (2-4)

Valencia CF returned to action for their Copa del Rey debut on the road against Terrassa FC at 7 pm kick-off time at the Estadí Olímpic of Terrassa in a new-look knockout tie format.

Valencia CF were off to a bad start as Jaume put the hosts in front only nine minutes into the game. Javi Gracia’s side tried to get back in the game and the first Valencia CF chance fell to Jason Remesseiro whose effort went just wide of the wrong side of the right-hand post. 

A minute later, Rubén Sobrino tried his luck but his effort whistled over the crossbar following a Vicente Esquerdo pass. Valencia CF started to get a foothold in the game with Rubén Sobrino as their main attacking outlet who minutes later rattled the crossbar following a dipping cross which came off a defender and onto the crossbar.

The match saw a lively spell halfway through the first half with both sides searching for the goal as the floodgates opened with both sides enjoying clear-cut chances at both ends.      

Rubén Sobrino lashed a powerful effort in but it was turned behind for a corner on 35 minutes and only five minutes later, Manu Vallejo came mighty close to restoring parity.

However, it was the home side who enjoyed the last kick of the half forcing Cristian Rivero into a superb stop to Josu’s point-blank rage effort to keep the scoreline at 1-0 at half-time in Terrassa. 

The same script followed in the second half as the hosts doubled their advantage on 54 minutes through Álex Fernández and minutes later, things took a turn for the worse when Guillem Molina was dismissed for a double booking having picked up a yellow early on in the first half.

Valencia CF were reduced to ten men and Javi Gracia shuffled his pack with a raft of substitutions straight after the sending off bringing on Álex Blanco and Uroš Račić who replaced Jason and Koba Lein respectively.

Carlos Soler halved the deficit from twelve yards out as Manu Vallejo went down under Aikiko’s challenge. Carlos Soler sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-1 and hand Valencia CF a lifeline.

Moments later, the hosts were also reduced to ten men as Emilio Lucas was sent off following a kick-out on Yunus Musah who made an impact minutes later after lashing it home on the volley following a corner kick to send the knockout tie into extra time with a last-gasp wonder strike.

Gonçalo Guedes had a go at goal right after the re-start but his curling effort went narrowly off target. Valencia CF took full control stamping their authority on the game in terms of chances and possession.

Gonçalo Guedes sprung off the bench to complete the comeback latching onto an Álex Blanco layoff drilling it home inside the left-hand post as the first half of extra time finished.

Gonçalo Guedes picked up where he left off in the second half of extra-time grabbing his brace with a tap-in at the back post following a Rubén Sobrino return ball to send Valencia CF into the next round of the Copa del Rey.

Valencia CF will be back in domestic action to visit FC Barcelona on Saturday at 4:15 pm kick-off time (CET) at the Camp Nou in the standout fixture of Matchday 14 of LaLiga Santander. 

Match Details:

2. Terrassa FC: Ortega, Salva, Pelegrín, Castillo, Lucas Viña, Álex Fernández, Josu, Lledó (Mico, 55’), Jaume Pascual (Akito, 45’), Kilian (Albert López, 73’) and Arranz.

3. Valencia CF: Cristian Rivero, Thierry, Mangala, Guillem Molina, Jesús Vázquez (Yunus Musah, 86’), Esquerdo (Carlos Soler, 71’), Koba Leïn (Racic, 55’), Jason (Álex Blanco, 55’), Cheryshev (Guedes, 71’), Manu Vallejo and Sobrino.

Goals: 1-0 Jaume Pascual, 8’; 2-0 Álex Fernández, 50’; 2-1 Carlos Soler, 83’; 2-2 Yunus Musah, 91’; 3-2 Guedes, 102’.

Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández. Sent off Guillem Molina for a double booking in the 53rd minute for VCF. Booked Adrían Llledó and sent off Emilio Lucas in the 89th minute for the hosts.

Observations: First Round of the Copa del Rey played at the Estadí Olímpic de Tarrassa.