MADRID — Valencia rallied to beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 in a first-leg match of the last of 16 in the Copa del Rey on Thursday.
Alex Moreno capitalized on Lucas Orban’s error as the Valencia defender mishit a clearance straight to him inside the penalty area for an easy 27th-minute tap-in.
Rayo goalkeeper David Cobeno failed to hold a ball in the penalty area and Francisco Alcazer pounced to equalize in the 70th.
Five minutes from time, Rayo lost possession in its own half, and Valencia midfielder Rodrigo de Paul sprinted up the right flank to fire a powerful shot inside the far post.
Also, goals by Gerard Moreno and Matias Nahuel secured Villarreal a 2-1 win against Cadiz.
Moreno opened the scoring for Villarreal when he controlled Jose Naranjo’s pass and skilfully dribbled past two defenders to shoot in the 17th.
Villarreal’s 18-year-old Argentine midfielder, Nahuel, shot inside goalkeeper Riki Alonso’s far post from Gerard’s assist four minutes later.
Cadiz pulled one back in the 47th when defender Aitor Arregi raced forward to pounce on a loose ball in the box, after Villarreal defenders failed to clear a corner kick taken by Kike Lopez.
Villarreal defender Adrian Marin was ejected on a straight red card after a clumsy challenge from behind on Cadiz forward Enrique Lopez in the 58th, and the team then went down to nine men when central defender Israel Puerto had to leave the field hurt after coach Marcelino Garcia made all the substitutions allowed.
Elsewhere, new coach David Moyes’ Real Sociedad drew 0-0 with Oviedo, although striker Alfred Finnbogason missed a chance for Sociedad when his shot went just wide of the right post in the 56th.
Third-tier Oviedo coach Sergio Egea was ejected for vociferously calling for a penalty in the 66th.
Oviedo goalkeeper Esteban Suarez was happy with his team’s performance: "Now we have to wait to see if we can win away, but what this club really wants is to get promoted out of this division," Suarez said.