In spite of the first leg advantage, coach Ronald Koeman was taking no chances for the return game as he lined up his strongest available team that included new signing Éver Banega in midfield alongside big hitters Joaquín, David Silva and Vicente.
Los Ché took charge of the match from the opening whistle and it didn’t take long for them to extend their overall lead.
In the 9th minute, Emiliano Moretti got to the end of a long cross to nod the ball to Nikola Žigic, who ghosted in behind the Betis defence and pipped second choice keeper Espinosa Casto in the air to head home his fourth goal in as many Copa games.
The visitors never looked to be in the contest as they showed little attacking enterprise despite needing to score two goals just to tie up the aggregate score.
If anything, it was the home sides who continued to press forward and only some poor finishing by the Valencia frontline kept Paco Chapparo’s side in the hunt.
David Silva had a penalty claim turned away by the referee five minutes before the interval and two minutes later, Betis finally had their first real chance infront of goal.
Fernando slipped a through ball past a sleeping Valencia defence to Caffa but with just Timo Hildebrand to beat, the midfielder cracked his shot against the woodwork.
That close call came just at the right time for the hosts as they went in to regroup at the break. They began the second half by once again controlling proceedings as they looked neither in a hurry nor in danger of losing the lead. Vicente drilled a stinging shot just inches wide on 49 minutes and moments later, Joaquín raced on to Baraja‘s pass but an alert Casto dashed out of the box to clear the danger.
The game was put to bed in the 67th minute when a sublime through ball by David Silva released Vicente and the winger screamed towards goal miles ahead of any Betis defender before coolly rifling a low shot past Casto to make it 2-0 on the night.
Los Verdiblancos now needed three goals to stand a chance of advancing to the next stage and on 77 minutes, Juanito gave the Andaluz side a glimmer of hope when he rose high to meet Xisco’s cross and thumped an unstoppable header past Hildebrand.
Chapparo’s charges suddenly came alive and on 83 minutes, Jose Mari outjumped Marchena in the box to get to the end of Rafael Sóbis’ cross, but his sharp header was denied by a reflex save from Hildebrand. The German keeper had to be alert for the remainder of the game as Betis lay siege to his goal from all sides.
It was indeed a tense final few minutes for the Ché faithful but Koeman’s men held on for the 2-1 win to record a resounding 4-2 aggregate scoreline.
Los Ché took charge of the match from the opening whistle and it didn’t take long for them to extend their overall lead.
In the 9th minute, Emiliano Moretti got to the end of a long cross to nod the ball to Nikola Žigic, who ghosted in behind the Betis defence and pipped second choice keeper Espinosa Casto in the air to head home his fourth goal in as many Copa games.
The visitors never looked to be in the contest as they showed little attacking enterprise despite needing to score two goals just to tie up the aggregate score.
If anything, it was the home sides who continued to press forward and only some poor finishing by the Valencia frontline kept Paco Chapparo’s side in the hunt.
David Silva had a penalty claim turned away by the referee five minutes before the interval and two minutes later, Betis finally had their first real chance infront of goal.
Fernando slipped a through ball past a sleeping Valencia defence to Caffa but with just Timo Hildebrand to beat, the midfielder cracked his shot against the woodwork.
That close call came just at the right time for the hosts as they went in to regroup at the break. They began the second half by once again controlling proceedings as they looked neither in a hurry nor in danger of losing the lead. Vicente drilled a stinging shot just inches wide on 49 minutes and moments later, Joaquín raced on to Baraja‘s pass but an alert Casto dashed out of the box to clear the danger.
The game was put to bed in the 67th minute when a sublime through ball by David Silva released Vicente and the winger screamed towards goal miles ahead of any Betis defender before coolly rifling a low shot past Casto to make it 2-0 on the night.
Los Verdiblancos now needed three goals to stand a chance of advancing to the next stage and on 77 minutes, Juanito gave the Andaluz side a glimmer of hope when he rose high to meet Xisco’s cross and thumped an unstoppable header past Hildebrand.
Chapparo’s charges suddenly came alive and on 83 minutes, Jose Mari outjumped Marchena in the box to get to the end of Rafael Sóbis’ cross, but his sharp header was denied by a reflex save from Hildebrand. The German keeper had to be alert for the remainder of the game as Betis lay siege to his goal from all sides.
It was indeed a tense final few minutes for the Ché faithful but Koeman’s men held on for the 2-1 win to record a resounding 4-2 aggregate scoreline.
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