"Barcelona ended Albacete's giant-killing run in the Copa del Rey, winning 2-1 away on Tuesday to become the first side to book a semifinal berth, but only after surviving a late comeback from the second-tier outfit. Lamine Yamal swept home a 39th-minute strike to open the scoring and captain Ronald Araujo netted from a second-half corner as Barcelona stayed on course to defend the trophy they won last year."
"Albacete, who sit in 12th spot in the Spanish second division, had upset Celta Vigo and Real Madrid in the previous rounds but went behind in the quarterfinal tie when Marcus Rashford helped steal the ball, passing to Frenkie de Jong, who in turn set up Yamal for a sweeping left-footed finish. Rashford had squandered an early chance, and Dani Olmo had a volleyed effort deflected for a corner before Yamal broke the deadlock."
"Olmo had another shot blocked after Rashford's run had set him up from close range in the 47th minute, but Barcelona did double the score nine minutes later when Araujo headed home in his first start since taking a mental health break in December. Journeyman attacker Jefte Betancor, who had scored twice for Albacete against Real last month, could have got his side back into contention, but failed to make an immediate impact off the bench when he shot wide in the 63rd minute."
Barcelona beat Albacete 2-1 away to reach the Copa del Rey semifinals. Lamine Yamal scored a 39th-minute left-footed strike after Marcus Rashford won the ball and Frenkie de Jong set him up. Captain Ronald Araujo doubled the lead from a second-half corner in his first start since a mental health break in December. Albacete, 12th in the second division and victors over Celta Vigo and Real Madrid in earlier rounds, pulled one back through Javier Moreno in the 87th minute and had a stoppage-time effort cleared off the line. Barcelona now leads the competition's remaining quarterfinalists on course to defend the trophy.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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