Real Betis v Rayo Vallecano Live Commentary & Result, 3/3/22, Copa del Rey

That's all for now though, goodbye!

The result means that Real Betis will face Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on 23 April.

Iglesias' dramatic late winner sends Real Betis into the final of the Copa del Rey. This was a tight, nervy game befitting what was at stake. The first half featured few chances as both teams refused to open themselves up to a counter. The second half followed a similar pattern until the final 20 minutes. Finally, Rayo decided to break out and go for a crucial equaliser on aggregate. And despite offering little in attack all game, they found a goal when Bebe slammed in a sensational free-kick from beyond 30 yards. It looked as though we were headed for extra-time, but Joaquin made an instant impact after coming on by slipping Canales through. The midfielder's pass was deflected into the path of Iglesias who slid in to send Betis into their fifth ever Copa del Rey final.

90' + 7' FULL-TIME: REAL BETIS 1-1 RAYO VALLECANO (3-2)

A. Guardado

Álex Moreno

90' + 6' Moreno makes way for Guardado as Betis look to tighten up at the back.

90' + 4' CHANCE! Joaquin has the opportunity to finish this game off once and for all, but he sends it wide when clean through on goal!

90' + 3' The home fans and players go wild! Betis substitutes pile onto the pitch to celebrate with Iglesias following that dramatic goal. Can the hosts hold on now and make the final?

Borja Iglesias

Goal

90' + 2' GOALLL! IGLESIAS! 1-1 (3-2)! Betis go ahead on aggregate. Joaquin slices through the Rayo defence with an incisive pass to send Canales through! The midfielder attempts to nudge it around the onrushing Zidane, but his effort is deflected into the path of Iglesias who slides in to knock it into an empty net!

90' + 1' Five minutes of stoppage time are added.

Kévin Rodrigues

Álvaro García

89' Juanmi is replaced by Joaquin.

88' The hosts had plenty of chances to wrap this game up and they'll be very frustrated to be behind.

Borja Iglesias

Willian José

86' Willian Jose is replaced up top by Iglesias.

86' Well, it looked like Rayo would never score today. But Bebe's stunning strike has levelled the score on aggregate out of nowhere!

84' OFF THE LINE! Betis almost equalise immediately. Willian Jose releases Fekir whose driven strike from 12 yards goes through Zidane, only for Catena to rush back and hack it off the line!

Joaquín

Juanmi

81' Juanmi is replaced by Joaquin for the hosts.

Bebé

Goal

80' GOALLL! BEBE! 1-0. Rayo level the scores on aggregate with a brilliant goal. Bebe lines up the free-kick from 35-yard and lashes a dipping, swerving strike beyond Bravo and into the top right corner! It was a truly sensational strike

Willian José

Yellow Card

79' Willian Jose is booked for a cynical trip on Valentin presenting the visitors with a free-kick 35 yards from goal.

M. Sylla

Sergi Guardiola

77' Guardiola also heads off with Sylla coming on up top.

Bebé

Mario Suárez

77' Two more changes for Rayo who are becoming increasingly desperate: the first sees Bebe come on for Suarez.

76' Betis waste another counter! This time it's Juanmi who drives into the box, before drilling a tame 12-yard effort at the near post that Zidane pushes away. Moments later, Canales blazes over from 20 yards.

74' CHANCE! Betis are getting closer to finishing off this semi-final. Willian Jose leads a three-on-three and draws in the defence before freeing Fekir. The attacker dances into the box before cutting inside and wastefully placing an eight-yard strike straight at Zidane!

72' Chance! Fekir cuts it back from the byline to Canales who has plenty of time! However, the midfielder can't get the ball out of his feet and he nudges it back to Carvalho who curls over from just outside the box.

I. Balliu

Yellow Card

71' Balliu is booked after a cynical trip on Moreno.

69' Rayo have kept this second leg tight so far, but now they need to throw everything at Betis in this final 20 minutes.

67' Canales lashes high and wide from 25 yards.

66' Guardiola has linked the play well for the visitors today, but he's yet to manage a shot. If they're to level the score on aggregate you'd think that they'd need to give their striker better service.

64' The second half has continued in the same vein as the first: it's a tight, keenly-contested game with neither side allowing the other to create clear chances.

Santi Comesaña

P. Ciss

61' Ciss also heads off with Comesana taking his place in midfield.

R. Nteka

Isi Palazón

61' Rayo make two changes as they begin to search for that much-needed goal: the first sees Palazon make way for Nteka.

60' CLOSE! Carvalho drills a strike from 25 yards that flicks off Ciss before bouncing inches wide of the post! The resulting corner is headed clear by Catena.

58' Guardiola works hard to win a corner from Rodriguez, but again Bravo sails out to punch clear the set-piece.

56' Sabaly lands awkwardly after colliding in the air with Alvaro Garcia, but he should be okay to continue.

54' Chance! Guardiola nudges an awkward pass into Ciss inside the box and the midfielder swivels before volleying well over the bar from 12 yards.

52' Ciss fouls Carvalho 30 yards from goal, presenting Betis with a promising free-kick. Willian Jose steps up and wastefully shoots it straight into the wall.

50' Palazon cuts inside from the right and drifts towards the box, before slipping a pass through towards Guardiola. However, the pass is a little too strong and Bravo grabs it.

48' Sabaly clips in an inviting cross but Carvalho can't quite bring it down and the visitors clear.

46' Rayo Vallecano kick off the second half.

There's been one shot on target combined between the two sides so far, and that will need to change if Rayo are to level this on aggregate.

It's 0-0 (and 2-1 to Betis on aggregate) after a tight first half. This has been a nervy game with neither side willing to open themselves up to a counter-attack. As a result, there have been few chances. Juanmi came close with a header for the hosts, while Alvaro Garcia has looked lively for the visitors. Nevertheless, this game is finely poised ahead of the second half.

45' + 1' HALF-TIME: REAL BETIS 0-0 RAYO VALLECANO

45' One minute of stoppage time is added on.

44' The hosts have defended well throughout this first half. This time Gonzalez surges out of the backline to get to a dangerous loose ball before Trejo.

42' Guardiola releases Alvaro Garcia on the break again, but Rodriguez races back and slides in to dispossess the attacker.

40' A long spell of possession for the visitors ends with Ciss inadvertently knocking it out of play.

38' CLOSE! Moreno races past Palazon and drives all the way to the byline. He cuts it back into the six-yard box where it flicks off Suarez and starts trickling towards the goalline! However, Zidane scrambles across and keeps it out!

36' Bravo claims another Rayo corner - the goalkeeper has been nimble and authoritative off his line so far.

34' Moreno crashes into Palazon as the two players fight to win a header, and he'll require treatment. The defender should be okay to continue though.

32' Rayo whip a number of deliveries into the box, but Betis repel each one.

30' Rayo have enjoyed a little more possession in the last 10 minutes, but they haven't been able to turn it into a shooting chance.

28' The two sides have managed just three shots between them so far - it's been a tight game with few chances.

26' Fekir rides a number of challenges as he jinks towards the edge of the box, but Valentin manages to race across and tackle him just in time.

24' Willian Jose leads a promising counter for the hosts as a three on three opens up! However, the move abruptly ends as Trejo tracks back and dispossesses the attacker.

22' Juanmi forces Zidane into a smart save with an eight-yard volley, but it wouldn't have counted - Canales was offside in the build up.

20' Guardiola searches for Alvaro Garcia again, but this time Bravo rushes off his line to sweep up.

18' It's been a tight start so far, with few shooting opportunities for either side. This is all set to become a nervy second leg.

16' Almost! Guardiola cuts the defence open with a superb throughball unleashing Alvaro Garcia! The winger gets to the byline and cuts it back into the six-yard box, only for Gonzales to knock it behind with a desperate diving header. The resulting corner amounts to nothing.

14' Rayo win their first corner of the game after Palazon's 25-yard strike deflects behind. However, the set-piece is tame and Sabaly clears.

12' Betis have shown plenty of aggression in the challenge so far. Rodriguez lunges in on Fran Garcia, but again the referee shows lenience.

10' Betis continue their strong start as Tello's cross deflects behind for a corner. Fekir's corner falls to Sabaly on the edge of the box, but he's quickly dispossessed by Fran Garcia.

8' Pezzella is down after Zidane crashed into him to punch a cross clear, but he should be okay to continue.

7' Save! Sabaly chops inside Balliu and sends in an inviting cross that Juanmi heads towards the bottom corner! However, there's not enough power on the header and Zidane scrambles to gather it.

5' Palazon crosses for Guardiola, but Bravo anticipates the danger and rushes out to claim the cross.

3' Sabaly jumps aggressively into a dangerous challenge on Alvaro Garcia, but the referee pulls play back for an earlier foul on Sabaly. Betis' free-kick comes to nothing.

1' Betis get the first half underway.

The players are emerging from the tunnel and kick off is just seconds away!

Today could be a historic moment for the visitors. While Betis have made the final of the Copa del Rey four times (the last occasion being 2005) Rayo have never made the final.

Rayo make two changes to the side that suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid last time out: Ciss and Palazon come in for Comesana and Bebe.

Betis make five changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Sevilla last time out. Bellerin, Bartra, Ruiz, Tello and Iglesias make way for Sabaly, Pezzella, Gonzalez, Juanmi and Willian Jose.

SUBS: Stole Dimitrievski, Nikola Maras, Adrian Quintela, Kevin Rodrigues, Esteban Ariel Saveljich, Mario Hernandez, Santi Comesana, Randy Nteka, Bebe, Mamadou Sylla.

RAYO VALLECANO (4-2-3-1): Luca Zidane; Ivan Balliu, Mario Suarez, Alejandro Catena, Francisco Garcia; Pathe Ciss, Oscar Velentin; Isi Palazon, Oscar Trejo, Alvaro Garcia; Sergi Guardiola.

SUBS: Joel Robles, Rui Silva, Marc Bartra, Victor Ruiz, Hector Bellerin, Paul Akouokou, Andres Guardado, Borja Iglesias, Christian Tello, Joaquin, Aitor Ruibal.

REAL BETIS (4-2-3-1): Claudio Bravo; Youssouf Sabaly, German Pezzella, Edgar Gonzalez, Alex Moreno; William Carvalho, Guido Rodriguez; Sergio Canales, Nabil Fekir, Juanmi; Willian Jose.

Real Betis won the first leg 2-1 away to Rayo Vallecano leaving this tie finely poised as we enter the second 90 minutes. The winner will face Valencia in the final after they prevailed 2-1 against Athletic Club.

Hello and welcome to live commentary of the second leg of this Copa del Rey semi-final between Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano.

Real Betis v Rayo Vallecano Live Commentary, 4/3/22

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