A tense penalty shootout victory saw us make history as we reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time since 2003 following a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad.
Gio Gonzalez opened the scoring shortly after the restart, before Mikel Oyarzabal levelled matters.We could not be separated and had to decide the tie via penalties as we held our nerve and fired home all five spot kicks to book our ticket for the final in Seville.
Javier Aguirre continued with Dominik Grief in goal, while Jose Copete, Martin Valjent and Antonio Raíllo were named as the central three defenders in a back five.Opportunities were few and far between in the first half with the highlight being a half chance for Abdón on the edge of the box which went wide of the mark.
While there was little action, there would be late drama as the hosts were awarded a penalty for Raíllo’s handling of the ball, although Grief got down well to deny Brais Méndez and keep the scoreline level come the break.We started the second half the better side and took the lead in the 50th minute when Gio Gonzalez ghosted in at the back post and headed home Jaume Costa’s deep cross.
The hosts pulled level 20 minutes later when substitute Oyarzabal made space for himself to find the bottom corner.
Both sides had late chances to settle the semi final, although penalties were required to separate the two sides.
Muriqi, Morlanes, Mascarell, Radonjić and Darder all made no mistake, and after Oyarzabal had failed to score his penalty, we celebrated long into the night as we now look towards our first Copa del Rey final in 21 years.
Real Sociedad: Remiro; Galán (Galán min 91), Le Normand, Zubeldia, Traoré; Méndez (Turrientes min 79), Zubimendi, Merino (Olasagasti min 104); Kubo (Sadiq min 104), Silva (Becker min 46), Zakharyan (Oyarzabal min 63).
RCD Mallorca: Greif; Gio, Valjent, Raillo, Copete, Costa (Lato min 99); Dani Rodríguez (Darder min 99), Samu Costa (Mascarell min 106), Antonio Sánchez (Manu Morlanes min 72); Abdón (Muriqi min 62), Larin (Radonjić min 106).
Yellow cards: The referee has cautioned Le Normand for Real Sociedad, and Copete, Jaume Costa and Muriqi for RCD Mallorca.
Goals: 0-1 Gio Gonzalez, minute 51; 1-1 Oyarzabal, minute 70.
