Felipe Caicedo nets again as Espanyol run riot against Sevilla in Copa clash
Espanyol scored three times against Sevilla on Thursday night and a fourth goal wouldn't have flattered them as they kept Catalonia's hopes of an all-Barcelona Copa del Rey final alive. They still have to go to Andalusia next week, but with the advantage they earned here they travel south as heavy favourites.
With Barca, who beat Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, in the other half of the draw, Sergio Gonzalez's Pericos will only — only — have to beat the winner of Athletic Club or Malaga in the semi-final if they do eventually make it there.
Felipe Caicedo struck the first goal just as most kids were going to bed. The 10pm kick off had reduced the crowd south of 15,000, although it hadn't affected the enthusiasm of those that had attended. Espanyol fans have been awoken to the fact they won this competition in 2006 and Sergio Garcia's second half penalty and a tidy finish from Lucas Vazquez has them thinking the unthinkable again.
A late, and vital, away goal from Carlos Bacca means Sevilla are not buried yet mind.
The finish from Caicedo was one of a striker full of confidence. Swivelling on the edge of the box, his left-footed effort was destined for the top corner the moment it left his boot. As a line on one of the old versions of FIFA used to say, you could have had two keepers in goal and they would not have stopped that one.
It was the Ecuadorian's eighth goal of the season and his fourth in his last 35 minutes of football. He scored twice in a 14 minute cameo to knock Valencia out of the Copa last week and scored the winner in his 13 minutes of action against Celta Vigo on Saturday night. His goal here took just 18 minutes.
That Sergio Gonzalez can count on goals from three different sources distinguishes Espanyol from the clubs that will be playing Russian roulette at the end of the season. It also means they can realistically shut their eyes and imagine themselves in this season's cup final. On top of Caicedo's eight, Christian Stuani has notched nine and captain Garcia's penalty was his eighth.
Sevilla boasted Barca starlet Denis Suarez in their ranks and he went close to scoring both before and after Caicedo's goal in the first half. A dipping volley had Pau Lopez struggling early on and a free-kick later bounced off the top of the bar. It's clear why Barca want him back — even if he won't be the answer to all their problems.
Garcia had a great chance to double the home side's lead just before the half-time oranges, but his tame shot was easily smothered by Sergio Rico.
In search of an away goal, Unai Emery played his trump cards in the second half. Top scorer Bacca was presented at the break and Gerard Deulofeu — another familiar, if unpopular face in these parts — was thrown onto the backdrop of jeers and whistles just after the hour mark.
However it was Espanyol who struck next. And then they struck again. Alejandro Arribas's handball allowed Garcia to send Rico the wrong way from 12-yards. Stuani and Lucas then both came close to a third; both were thwarted by Rico. However Rico wasn't able to thwart Lucas when Garcia angled him through minutes later.
That 3-0 lead weakened, though, when Bacca poked home in the final minute, ensuring Sevilla have something to chase at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan next Thursday.
