Betis and Levante suffer a lot to advance to the second round of the Cup

Betis and Levante suffered a lot to get to the second round of the Cup. Both Navalcarnero, from the Second Federation, and Tarancón, from the Third Federation, took the two First Division teams to extra time, one of them, the Andalusian team, from the Champions League. Levante won 1-2, with a goal from Ratkov from a penalty in the 120th minute. Betis also won very quickly (2-3), but lost 2-1 and only a goal from youth squad Rodrigo Marina gave them the tie in the 92nd minute to force extra time. The scare that the Andalusian team got was one of the great ones.

Manuel Pellegrini, green and white coach, brought out his best possible eleven to defeat Navalcarnero. It must be taken into account that Betis faced the clash without its internationals by decision of the coaching staff itself. Footballers like Ceballos, Fornals, Lo Celso and Antony started against a rival from the Second Federation. The clash took place in Alcorcón. After six minutes, Betis took the lead through Riquelme after Antony let the ball pass without touching it in a great maneuver to throw goalkeeper Calado off guard, which led to an impressive match.

Navalcarnero did not lose face in the clash, although the best chances went to Betis. especially in Riquelme's boots. The Madrid team, with impressive faith, turned the score around, taking Betis to an extreme situation. Varo and Vázquez scored the goals for the Madrid team and Pellegrini's group was miraculously saved. The Andalusians insisted in searching for a tie, but it did not come despite the fact that Antony, Llorente, Ruibal and Riquelme were able to make it 2-2. When the big surprise of the Cup was already in the air, the elimination of a team from the Champions League in the first round, the Green and White equalizer arrived. In the 92nd minute, youth player Rodrigo Marina pushed a good pass from Ruibal into the net. The 20-year-old forward of the reserve team could not have had a better debut.

Everything happened in extra time. Riquelme scored again, Isco missed a penalty, Llorente was injured, an incredible goal by Isco himself was annulled, Ruibal saw red for a double warning and Cordero Vega still did not see a clear penalty from Fornals in the last play of the match. The things that happen in football without VAR. Betis went through a lot of trouble in a scenario that is a bad memory for Pellegrini, where Alcorcón scored four against Madrid in 2009.

Levante, for its part, also suffered a lot to overcome a spirited Tarancón. The locals took the lead with a goal from Nieto in the 53rd minute. Ratkov equalized in the 80th minute and the striker scored the final goal, with a penalty, in the 120th minute. The First Division team was miraculously saved.

In the other match of this postponed Cup match due to the death of Jesús de Miguel, Albacete beat Puertollano (0-3).