Match Report: VCF reach Copa del Rey quarter-finals on penalties (0-0) (2-4)

Valencia CF were back in midweek Copa del Rey action to visit Cultural Deportiva Leonesa on Wednesday at Reino de León at 7 pm kick-off time (local time) for their last 16 knockout tie after their opening win against UD Logroñés.

Valencia CF had a possession type of start to the game while Cultural Leonesa were looking to get on the break. The first clear-cut chance of the game fell to Carlos Soler who could not get on the end of it following a great return ball by Ferran Torres on the 10th-minute mark.

Cultural Deportiva Leonesa were forced into a substitution following an accidental shoulder collision between Thierry Correia and Daniel Pichín who made way for Augusto Galván  halfway through the first half.

Kevin Gameiro latched onto a Ferran Torres low cross from the right wing but his shot spun off of a Cultural Deportiva Leonesa and behind for a corner kick on the half-hour mark of the game where Valencia CF were the better side in terms of dominance.

Valencia CF committed men and pushed their front line forward which resulted in Kevin Gameiro lifting the ball over his marker clipping it over the crossbar from close range following a quick collective move. Just a minute later the Frenchman managed to keep the ball in play to set up Thierry Correia who miscued it.

The first half finished scoreless at Reino de Léon with nothing to separate the sides at half-time and all to play for in the second half.

Valencia CF upped the tempo in the second half looking for the opening goal by putting pressure in an incidental passage of play. Albert Celades shuffled his pack and Maximiliano Gómez replaced Kang-In over the hour mark as they pegged the opposition into their own box.

Albert Celades made two like-for-like swaps by brining on Jose Luís Gaya who replaced Jaume Costa and Francis Coquelin who replaced Geoffrey Kondogbia in midfield. The remainder of the half played out with neither side able to break the deadlock the game went into extra time at the end of regulation time.

The first half of extra time followed the same scrip with both sides allowed an extra-time substitution. Kevin Gameiro delivered a great ball into Maxi Gómez but Aitor got ahead to put it behind for a corner.

Minutes later, Gabriel Paulista tried his luck from close range but the ball went over the crossbar as Rubén Sobrino replaced fellow forward Kevin Gameiro with Valencia CF seemingly running out of steam and momentum favouring the much-spirited hosts.

The first half of extra time finished goalless at Reino de León. Ferran Torres had a superb shot kept out at the near post following a perfect Jose Luis Gayà ball. Minutes later, Ferran Torres wriggled his way past defenders.

Valencia CF had a last-minute flurry of chances but could not find a way past Cultural Leonesa at the end of extra time and the  game went to the sudden death of  the penalty shootout to decide which team goes through to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.

Jaume Domenech saved the first penalty going down to his right to save Juan Carlos Menudo's spot-kick. Francis Coquelin stepped up to take the first for Valencia CF straight down the middle. Jaume Domenech saved it down to his left parrying Benito’s penalty kick. Carlos Soler put Valencia CF 3-1 up firing it inside the left post.

Penalty specialist Dani Parejo made no mistake firing it into the top left corner and score the winning spot-kick in style to send Valencia CF into the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. The draw will take place on Friday at Spanish FA headquarters in Madrid in an unseeded draw.

Valencia CF will return to LaLaLiga action on Saturday night at 9 pm at Mestalla to welcome Celta Vigo on Matchday 22 of LaLiga Santander looking to stretch their unbeaten run at Mestalla.

Match Details:

0 (2). Cultural Deportiva  Leonesa: Giffard, Aitor, Iván González, Virgil Theresin, Araújo (Julen Castañeda, m. 75), Martínez © (S. Marcos, m. 80), Montes Arce, Augusto (Dani Pichín, m. 23), Gudiño, J. Luque (Menudo, m. 99) and Sergio Benito.

0 (4). Valencia CF: Jaume Doménech, Thierry Correia, Diakhaby, Paulista, Jaume Costa (Gayà, m. 74), Kondogbia (Coquelin, m. 83), Parejo ©, Carlos Soler, Kang In (Maxi Gómez, m. 64), Ferran and Gameiro (Rubén Sobrino, m. 99).

Penalties: 0-0: Menudo (Jaume stops). 0-1: Coquelin (goal). 0-1: Benito (stops Jaume). 0-2: Carlos Soler (goal). 1-2: Dani Pichín (goal). 1-3: Maxi Gómez (goal). 2-3: Eric Montes (goal). 2-4: Parejo (goal).

Referee: Pizarro Gómez, booked Montes Arce, Aitor, Julen Castañeda, Antonio Martínez and Dani Pichín for Cultural Deportiva Leonesa and Kondogbia and Carlos Soler for Valencia CF.

Observations: Last 16 of the Copa del Rey, played on Wednesday at 7 pm at Reino de León before about 12,000 spectators, with the presence of a hundred Valencia CF fans. Pepe Carrete, former VCF player took honourary kick-off as pre-match homage.