Getafe thrash Barcelona in King’s Cup semi-final

By DPA

Madrid : Modest Getafe astonishingly powered their way into the final of the Spanish King's Cup for the first time ever with a 4-0 second leg hammering of hapless Barcelona.


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The memorable win Thursday puts Getafe into the final – where they will face Sevilla – on a 6-5 aggregate, after they lost 5-2 three weeks ago in Barcelona.

This is Barca's biggest meltdown since Frank Rijkaard took charge in 2003 and will raise doubts about their ability to retain the Spanish league title.

"This is a really incredible night for us," said Getafe's two-goal hero Daniel Guiza. "None of us will forget this match for a long, long time."

Anyone seeing the result might imagine that Rijkaard fielded a reserve-packed side, but the opposite was true. The likes of Ronaldino, Samuel Eto'o and Carles Puyol were brushed-aside by hard-working Getafe.

The only reserve, significantly, fielded by Rijkaard was understudy keeper Albert Jorquera, who gave a nervy, erratic display and could have done better with at least two of the goals.

Veteran midfielder Francisco Casquero gave Getafe the lead with a hard shot in the 37th minute. Five minutes later, Guiza took advantage of confusion in the Barca defence to send Getafe back to the dressing room with a 2-0 lead.

Barca seemed to have steadied the ship, and Ronaldinho and Eto'o both came close to scoring a vital away goal.

In the 70th minute, though, Vivar Dorado made it 3-0 by heading in a free-kick, and – with the Barca defence all at seas – Guiza completed the rout with a powerful drive just two minutes later.

The remarkable rout will further boost the image of Getafe coach Bernd Schuster, now wanted for next season by both Real and Atletico Madrid.

On Wednesday, Sevilla had booked their first final place since 1962 by completing a 5-0 aggregate hammering of Deportivo Coruna.

The Sevilla-Getafe final will be played in Real Madrid's Estadio Bernabeu June 23.

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