Andrés Guardado and Diego Lainez lifted the Copa del Rey, their first title with Real Betis

The Mexican veteran saw minutes in overtime and was in charge of scoring the third goal in the penalty shootout against Valencia

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Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Copa del Rey - Final - Real Betis v Valencia - Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla, Seville, Spain - April 23, 2022  Real Betis' Joaquin lifts the trophy with teammates after winning the Copa del Rey REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Copa del Rey - Final - Real Betis v Valencia - Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla, Seville, Spain - April 23, 2022 Real Betis' Joaquin lifts the trophy with teammates after winning the Copa del Rey REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Andrés Guardado and Diego Lainez made history in Spanish football by winning the Copa del Rey. In a match where it was necessary to dispute overtime and the penalty shootout to define the champion, the Real Betis players managed to overcome the Valencia team. The American youth player was not considered in the call, but The Little Prince had minutes on the pitch and made the difference with a goal in the final round.

The match started with the spirit worthy of a final. The two best cadres of the competition sought to prevail from the start of the most anticipated cup match. The momentum of those led by Manuel Pellegrini, who sent one of his most offensive lineups to the field, materialized before the rivals could approach the goal guarded by Claudio Bravo forcefully.

At the 11th minute of the match, the betics embarked on a solid attack that prospered despite the huge presence of the rivals in their midfield. The side defender Hector Bellerín received a ball on the right wing and embarked on a fleeting career with which he overcame any intention of rival defenders to strip him of the ball. A few meters after touching the final line of the rectangle he sent a shoe to the area.

Andrés Guardado se hizo presente con un gol en la tanda de penales (Foto: Marcelo del Pozo/REUTERS)
Andrés Guardado se hizo presente con un gol en la tanda de penales (Foto: Marcelo del Pozo/REUTERS)REUTERS

The football traveled through the air while Valencia's three central defenders were trying to decipher the career of the two finishers in the area. A clever move by Borja Iglesias allowed him to win the back and front of his rivals and opened a gap through which he rose through the air. In the middle of the small area, the scorer hit a solid headshot that caught goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili by surprise and crossed the goal line.