MADRID (AP) — More than two decades later, Mallorca is in the Copa del Rey final.
The Spanish club, partly owned by Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and former NBA star Steve Nash, beat Real Sociedad 5-4 in the aftermath on Tuesday to advance to the finals 21 years after winning the festival so far.
Mallorca goalkeeper Dominik Greif saved Mikel Oyarzabal’s opening penalty, then Sergi Darder took the decisive shot to put Mallorca in the final. They drew 1-1 in regulation time and were scoreless in stoppage time at the Reale Arena de la Sociedad.
They drew 0-0 in the first leg in Mallorca on 6 February.
Mallorca will play the final on April 6 in Seville against either Atletico Madrid or Athletic Bilbao, who will play the second leg of the other semi-final on Thursday in Bilbao. Athletic won the first leg 1-0 in Madrid.
It will be the fourth Copa del Rey final for Mallorca, who have made it a big-name game since winning the tournament in 2003 against Recreativo de Huelva. Their other Cup finals were in 1991 and they had 1998. No reached the semi-finals since 2009. .
Mallorca’s Mexican coach, Javier Aguirre, led Osasuna to the 2005 final, then Real Betis.
La Sociedad were looking to return to the Copa del Rey final for the first time since beating Athletic to win the trophy in the 2019-20 season.
Vedat Muriqi, Manu Morlanes, Omar Mascarell and Nemanja Radonjic scored for Mallorca on penalties. Beñat Turrientes, Jon Ander Olasagasti, Martín Zubimendi and Sheraldo Becker scored for the Society.
Mallorca took the lead in the 50th minute thanks to a header from Gio Gonzalez in the far corner in what was the visitors’ only attempt at goal during regulation time. looking for a possible offside in the build-up.
The hosts, who made just 30 attempts during the match, equalized in a breakaway in the 71st minute, with Oyarzabal finding the goal with a low shot after a great save from Brais Méndez.
Mallorca, which is outside the relegation zone in the Spanish league, has won just one of its last six games.
Sociedad, 7th after 26 league rounds, have picked up one win in their last seven games in all competitions. The Basque club is in the last 16 of the Champions League, after wasting the first leg against Paris Saint-Germain 2-0. in France.
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