Rodrigo Hat-Trick Inspires Valencia's Stunning Copa Del Rey Comeback
30th January 2019
His treble, including two injury-time strikes, sent Marcelino's men into a semi-final clash with either Real Madrid and Girona after a thrilling 3-1 second-leg victory.
- Rodrigo scored a hat-trick as Valencia staged a stunning late fightback at the Mestalla to stun ten-man Getafe 3-2 on aggregate to reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Tuesday
- Valencia went into the game looking to fight back after a 1-0 first-leg defeat and keep alive their hopes of winning a first major title since lifting the Copa del Rey 11 years ago
- The home side's hopes were dashed inside the very first minute as Jorge Molina, who scored the only goal of the first game last week, put the visitors ahead
MADRID, Spain- Rodrigo
scored a hat-trick as Valencia staged a stunning late fightback at the Mestalla
to stun ten-man Getafe 3-2 on aggregate to reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals
on Tuesday.
Valencia went into the game looking to fight back after a
1-0 first-leg defeat and keep alive their hopes of winning a first major title
since lifting the Copa del Rey 11 years ago.
And Rodrigo's treble, including two injury-time strikes,
sent Marcelino's men into a semi-final clash with either Real Madrid and Girona
after a thrilling 3-1 second-leg victory.
"We have shown impressive character," Rodrigo told
BeIN Sports.
READ MORE: Copa Del Rey: Real Beat Girona In Thrilling CupQuarterfinal
"We believed until the end, because of the support of
the fans and because we were superior on the pitch, which is where football
matters."
The home side's hopes were dashed inside the very first
minute as Jorge Molina, who scored the only goal of the first game last week,
put the visitors ahead.
Needing to win by two clear goals to progress, Valencia gave
themselves hope of a comeback as Rodrigo levelled just after the hour mark,
before Getafe centre-back Djene Dakonam was dismissed for a second yellow card
with 16 minutes still to play.
Spain striker Rodrigo was on a one-man mission to pull
Valencia through, netting again in the 92nd and 93rd minutes to stun Getafe.
READ MORE: Levante Shock Barcelona In Copa Del Rey First Leg
The match dragged into a ninth minute of added time, but
Valencia held on to close out a barely believable win.
"It's a great night for Valencia," said Marcelino,
whose side have recovered from a poor start to the season and now sit seventh
in La Liga. "We pinned the opposition back in the first half and continued
it in the second."
On Wednesday, holders Barcelona host last season's
runners-up Sevilla looking to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit, before Real
Madrid take a 4-2 lead to Girona on Thursday.