Surprise package Almeria into Spanish cup semis

Jan 19, 2011, 20:55 GMT

Madrid - Almeria powered their way into the semi-finals of the Spanish King's Cup on Wednesday with a 3-2 win away to Deportivo Coruna.

Almeria, the surprise package of the competition, went through on a 4-2 aggregate because they won last week's home leg 1-0. They are bottom of La Liga, but went to La Coruna in good heart after Sunday's 1-1 draw at home to Real Madrid.

Early goals from Miguel Corona and Albert Crusat stunned Riazor and left Almeria in the driving seat.

Pablo Alvarez and Adrian made it 2-2 for Deportivo, but Henok Goitom restored Almeria's lead from the penalty spot, which left the hosts needing three more goals - an impossible task for them.

In the semis Almeria will almost certainly face favourites Barcelona.

Barca thrashed second division Betis 5-0 in their quarter-final first leg. The return leg will be played in Sevilla later on Wednesday.

Holders Sevilla cruised into the semis on Tuesday, overcoming Villarreal on a 6-3 aggregate. They will meet either Real or Atletico Madrid in the semis.

Real beat Atletico 3-1 in the first leg. The second leg will take place at Atletico's Estadio Calderon on Thursday.

Atletico will go into the big game without injured star striker Sergio Aguero. Real, for their part, are in a crisis because of the future of coach Jose Mourinho, who is locked in a bitter feud with Jorge Valdano, the club's general director.

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