Copa del Rey wrap: Heartbreak for Sevilla, Levante do it easy

A 2-1 win was not enough for Sevilla to progress from their Copa del Rey tie against Valencia, while Espanyol and Levante progressed.

Valencia came into the round-of-16 second leg with a 1-0 lead following their narrow victory at home on January 5, and Roberto Soldado’s 66th minute goal at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Wednesday was enough to send them through 2-2 on aggregate.

Soldado’s goal put Valencia in front, but the lead last just four minutes before Ivan Rakitic levelled for home side Sevilla.

A Victor Ruiz own-goal then gifted the hosts a second in the 91st-minute, but it was not enough to prevent Marcelino Garcia Toral’s side from bowing out in the last 16.

Valencia progress to a quarter-final tie against Levante, who defeated Alcorcon 5-2 on aggregate after a 4-0 drubbing on Wednesday.

Segunda Division team Alcorcon had inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Levante in the first leg of their tie earlier this month, but there was to be no repeat of that upset at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia.

Jose Barkero and Roger Marti Salvador both struck in the first half to make it 3-2 to Levante on aggregate.

Vicente de la Fuente Iborra and Suarez Ruben were on target after the break to increase the margin, booking Levante’s place in the last eight for the first time since 1941.

Also on Wednesday, Espanyol defeated second-tier Cordoba 4-2 at home to progress 5-4 on aggregate.

La Liga club Espanyol were trailing 2-1 following the first leg away from home, but a first-half brace from Alvaro Vazquez and Didac’s goal saw them transform the deficit to a 4-2 aggregate lead.

Aguilar Alberto and Sanchez Pepe Diaz struck either side of half-time to level matters 4-4 on aggregate, putting Cordoba in sight of the next round courtesy of two away goals.

But Vazquez spared his team’s blushes, completing his hat-trick with two minutes remaining and sending Espanyol through.

They will take on third-tier minnows Mirandes in the last eight.