Valencia CF visited FC Cartagena for their opening fixture of the new calendar year at the Estadio Cartagonova at 4 pm kick-off time (CET) in the knockout tie of the round 32 the Copa del Rey. 

The game saw a high tempo at both ends in the early goings of the game will Valencia CF looking to stifle the opposition and break forward.  

Hélder Costa could not quite get on the end of an inviting Carlos Soler ball at the back post following an Uroš Račić ball recovery. Minutes later, Carlos Soler tried his luck from long range, but his effort went off target.   

Yunus Musah started off a brilliant move down the wing coming in off the right wing and played a return ball into Carlos Soler whose effort went off target as he was flagged up for offside over the quarter-hour mark. 

Valencia CF grew into the game midway through the first half testing the keeper with a series of successive attempts on target from Yunus Musah, Marcos André and Carlos Soler off a corner kick delivery.   

Carlos Soler broke the deadlock in style with a scintillating free-kick delivery up and over the wall past Prior. With this goal, Carlos Soler takes his goal tally to eight with his first-ever free-kick goal for Valencia CF’s first team. 

Both sides refused to back down after the goal with the home side looking to equalise and Valencia CF looking to double their lead. 

Otruño forced a magnificent save from Jaume Doménech who turned it behind for a corner kick in some frantic closing minutes of the opening half at Cartagonova. 

 The first half finished 0-1 for Valencia CF at the Interval. 

Valencia CF had a positive start to the second half with a double chance on 48 minutes first Hélder Costa from close range, and then Marcos André with a follow-up effort both kept out by Prior. 

A minute later, Jesús Vázquez, snuffed out the danger at the other with a last-ditch piece of defending. Then Jaume pulled off a splendid save to a powerful Dauda effort from long range to keep the scoreline at 0-1.   

José Bordalás shuffled his pack just under the hour mark Uroš Račić and Hélder Costa made way for José Luis Gayà and Koba Leïn.   

Marcos André delivered a fine pass out wide into José Luis Gayà whose effort flashed just wide of the target.  

Minutes Later, Yunus Musah was forced off the pitch and Denis Cheryshev replaced him. FC Cartagena were awarded a spot-kick for a handball offence against Jesús Vázquez and Ortuño scored the resulting penalty. 

Valencia CF survived a scare when Ortuño was put through on goal with 15 minutes plus stoppage time left to go luckily, the ball flashed wide of the mark with momentum swinging to the home side in the closing stages of the second half. 

Valencia CF came tantalisingly close with a Koba Leïn effort which came back off the post and took a wicked deflection off a defender but was cleared off the line by a defender. Valencia CF were down to ten men as Carlos Soler was forced off the field with injury.  

However, there was a positive late, late twist to the tale when Denis Cheryshev netted the second goal for Valencia CF  pouncng on a goalkeeping mistake to earn Valencia CF a last gasp win and send them into the last 16 of the Copa del Rey. 

Valencia CF will visit Real Madrid on Saturday 8th of January at 9 pm kick-off time at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Matchday 20 of LaLiga.  

MATCH DETAILS: 

1. FC CARTAGENA: Prior, Andújar, Pablo Vázquez, Bodiger (Rubén Castro, 95’), Boateng (De Blasis, 57’), Simón, Mo Dauda, De la Bella (Luna, 95’), Nacho Gil (Álex Gallar, 67’), Okazaki (Neskes, 57’) and Ortuño. 

2. VALENCIA CF: Jaume Domènech, Wass, Diakhaby (Omar Alderete, 46’), Hugo Guillamón, Jesús Vázquez, Carlos Soler, Racic (Koba Leïn, 59’), Yunus Musah (Cheryshev, 71’), Hélder Costa (Gayà, 59’), Hugo Duro and Marcos André (Guedes, 88’). 

GOALS: 0-1 Carlos Soler, 34’; 1-1 Ortuño (p), 75’; 1-2 Cheryshev, 92’. 

REFEREE: González Fuentes. Booked  Boateng, Diakhaby, Pablo Vázquez, Bódiger, Álex Gallar, Jesús Vázquez, Neskes and De la Bella. 

OBSERVATIONS: Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey held at the Estadio Cartagonova.