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Copa del Rey | Round Five
Jan 8, 2014 at 7pm UK
 
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1-0

Pacheco (72')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Live Commentary: Alcorcon 1-0 Espanyol - as it happened

Live coverage of the Copa del Rey tie between La Liga's Espanyol and Segunda Division side Alcorcon.
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A second-half free kick from Daniel Pacheco has given Alcorcon a 1-0 lead over Espanyol in the first leg of their Copa del Rey tie.

The Segunda Division side came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half, when Christian Alfonso struck the post.

Pacheco, who came off the bench after the break, managed to find the target with a long-range effort from a set piece out wide.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


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Good evening! It's around half an hour until kickoff at Santo Domingo, where Alcorcon will be looking to beat their second La Liga side of the tournament. Espanyol have already named their team, so let's take a look at the starting XI...

ESPANYOL STARTING XI: German, Rodriguez, Sidney, Moreno, Fuentes, Abraham, Sanchez, Lanzarote, Pizzi, Thievy, Garcia

ALCORCON STARTING XI: Gimenez, Camille, Verdes, Sanz, Martinez, Alfonso, Prendes, Chema, Iribas, Sales, Plano

Sergio Garcia, who has seven goals in the league for Espanyol this season, will lead the attack for the visitors this evening, while Victor Sanchez will also prove a threat up front.

Hector Verdes, who scored against Granada in the previous round, starts this evening, but Luis Nagore misses out.

Neither side can seal their place in the quarter-finals tonight. The second leg takes place a week today.

Espanyol head into tonight's match in strong form, with just the one loss in their last five outings. That only defeat came at the weekend against Osasuna.

The hosts have also been on a good run recently. Alcorcon are unbeaten in their last three games, and drew with Barcelona B in the Segunda Division at the weekend.

ALCORCON SUBSTITUTES: Iglesias, Babin, Angel, Juli, Jony, Pacheco, Jesus

ESPANYOL SUBSTITUTES: Kiko, Alvarez, Ramos, Lopez, Fernandez, Torje, Cordoba

The players are just making their way onto the pitch ready for kickoff in a few minutes time. Once the pre-match handshakes are out of the way, we should be just a few moments from kickoff.

Alcorcon get the match underway.

The hosts pass the ball backwards from the kickoff, but a poor touch by Camille almost always Espanyol in for an early chance, but Thievy can't get the ball down in time. It's a nervy start for the underway.

Alcorcon are seeing a decent amount of the ball early on, but haven't really produced much in terms of attack yet, but it's promising that they've not let Espanyol dictate the play early on. If they can get through the first 15 minutes of so without conceding, this could become a decent contest.

Victor Sanchez thinks that he has an early opportunity for the visitors, but he misses the target, giving the home side a goal kick. Alcorcon play the ball out from the back well, but their progress is halted by a good block from Fuentes.

CHANCE! It's a brilliant move from Espanyol as Pizzi dashes down the wing before crossing in to Thievy. The midfielder can't control the ball in time but Pizzi follows his delivery in and has a chance with the rebound, but Alcorcon eventually get the ball away. That's the first time either side have looked a genuine threat in front of goal.

There's an injury concern now for Espanyol as Fuentes tries to stop Sales picking up a cross from the wing, but is instead struck in the face by the delivery. After a moment or two of treatment on the pitch, he manages to make his own way to the sideline while the physio continued to work on him. It doesn't like he's bleeding, so he'll be hopeful of returning.

Alcorcon win a free kick near the corner flag, and it's delivered into the box but Sidnei manages to clear before Pizzi is fouled on the edge of the box, giving the visitors a free kick. Neither side have really settled into this match yet, but Espanyol have probably just had the edge in the opening 15 minutes.

CHANCE! On the counter-attack, Thievy finds himself one-on-one with Hernandez in the Alcorcon goal, but the keeper times his challenge perfectly on the edge of the box to stop him getting his shot away, although it did look like the midfielder may have also mis-timed his touch while trying to round the keeper.

Espanyol win the first corner of the match, but after a bit of a scramble, the Segunda Division side clear the box and manage to win a throw in. Rodriguez quickly tries a deep ball to Garcia to give the visitors another chance, but he puts too much on his delivery.

PENALTY APPEAL! Espanyol want a spot kick after Pizzi takes a tumble inside the box, but truthfully it looked more like he lost his footing than was fouled. It's a bit of an optimistic appeal in front of a largely Alcorcon-supporting crowd.

German has to be on his guard for the first time today as Plano curls a dangerous looking ball in front of the Espanyol goal, but the confident keeper easily punches it away before any of the home players can get a head to it.

Alcorcon are having a pretty good spell here. Plano continues to look to create chances out wide, but Rodriguez makes a good block before Verdes gives away a free kick.

CHANCE! Ibiris forces a good save from German to win the home side their first corner of the game. Sanz's delivery back into the box fails to trouble the Espanyol defence though, as they quickly clear their lines.

Once again the Espanyol defenders have to be alert as Camille comes forward to help out the Alcorcon attack, but Rodriguez and Sidney continue to frustrate the hosts.

OFF THE POST! Former Espanyol winger Christian Alfonzo has a shot from 25 yards out against his former club, as has German well beaten, but the Spaniard's powerful strike bounces back of the right post. That's the closest either side have come to a goal so far this evening.

CHANCE! Alfonso has another chance as Alcorcon get the ball forward again, but Rodriguez just does enough to stop him getting to the ball. A simple tap would surely have been all that needed to find the back of the net.

Plano, who has been superb for Alcorcon so far this evening, is forced to the ground by Lanzarote while helping out in defence, giving the ball back to the home side. Having had the better of the early sights at goal, Espanyol have really struggled to string a decent attacking move together as this first half has progressed.

CHANCE! Espanyol have their first attempt on goal! A free kick into the box falls nicely for Moreno, but the defender's header is well saved by Hernandez.

Espanyol have just upped the intensity a little as half time approaches, with Thievy making a run at the Alcorcon box, but Hernandez comes off his line to boot the ball away. Meanwhile, there's just the one minute of stoppage time.

HALF TIME! Alcorcon 0-0 Espanyol

So no goals, but a thoroughly entertaining first half of this Copa del Rey tie between Alcorcon and Espanyol.

The smart money would have been on the Catalans ahead of kickoff, but it's been the Segunda Division side who have had the better of the chances, keeping German on his toes in the Espanyol box, as well as striking the post.

Elsewhere in the competition, Real Betis have taken a half-time lead against Athletic Bilbao. You can also follow live commentary from that game with Sports Mole this evening. We'll also have updates from the later kickoffs between Barcelona and Getafe, and Racing against Almeria.

I can't see the home side making any changes early in the second half, unless someone picks up an injury, but Espanyol have plenty of talent on their bench should they fancy freshening up their side. Gabriel Torje may help them get up front while Javi Lopez would freshen up the midfield.

The players are just heading back out ready for the second half.

Espanyol get the second half underway.

Alcorcon try to continue where they left off in the first half, but an early effort from long range fails to trouble German.

Espanyol head on the counter attack, and Fuentes puts in a great delivery from out wide, but there's no-one in the box to tap it in, leaving Verdes with an easy header away.

Plano appears to be in some pain after colliding with Victor Sanchez mid air. Initially he appeared to be holding his ribs but now he's limping off for treatment. He would be a big loss for the hosts.

Fuentes is playing a much more attacking role for the visitors in this half and so far it's been pretty effective. Having already put one good cross in, the defender this time keeps it for himself, but can't quite keep the ball on target.

Alcorcon immediately repond with Iribas curling the ball in towards Prendes at the other end, but the winger can't quite reach the ball in time, and it goes behind for an Espyanol goal kick.

BOOKING! Ruben Sanz becomes the first player to pick up a yellow card for tugging at the shirt and shorts of Sergio Garcia.

Espanyol suddenly have a lot more urgency about them, with Pizzi and Thievy working hard in midfield, but Alcorcon get numbers back to block their routes into the box.

CHANCE! Well half-chance at least! Sergio Garcia tries to force the matter from the half-way line, lofting the ball towards the Alcorcon goal, but his delivery bounced a couple of feet wide.

SUB! The home side are making a double change with the injured Oscar Plano coming off along with Christian Alfonso, while Daniel Pacheco and Cerda Juli take their places.

CHANCE! Pacheco has an immediately impact, showing some skill down the left wing before winning a corner. From the corner, Antonio Martinez has a chance running in from 25 yards out, but he just pulls it to the left of the goal.

SUB! Espanyol make their first change, bringing on David Lopez in place of Gonzalez Abraham.

CHANCE! Sergio Garcia breaks from nowhere before unleashing a powerful effort from the edge of the area, but it's sliced just wide.

The hosts force a corner, which Prendes tries to take in from the edge of the box after the initial delivery is cleared, but Espanyol still have men back, and block the shot.

Thievo quickly creates a chance at the other end, but leaves it too late before pulling it back for Pizzi, and his delivery is cleared.

BOOKING! Hector Moreno is the first Espanyol player to be shown a yellow card for a foul on Pacheco, and the hosts now have a free kick in a dangerous position.

GOAL! Alcorcon 1-0 Espanyol (Pacheco)

A brilliant free kick and some poor goal keeper have given Alcorcon the lead. Daniel Pacheco tries his look from 25 yards out and well right of goal. His delivery is pretty special, but German will know that he could have done better in the Espanyol goal, as he just doesn't react!

CHANCE! Alcorcon almost snatch a second from the restart, as Cerda Juli gets through on goal, but he seems to rush his shot a little, and slices it high into the crowd.

SUBS! Espanyol have sent on some fresh legs as they look for an equaliser. Tievy and Pizzi, who have both worked hard but were clearly starting to tire, make way for Alex Fernandez and Jhon Cordoba.

Pacheco is clearly feeling confident from his earlier strike as he tries another long-range effort from out side, but this time he's nowhere near the target.

Things are starting to get a little heated between the two sides following a couple of dubious challenges from both teams. The latest leaves both Daniel Lopez and Antonio Martinez on the ground, the latter picking up a booking.

SUB! The hosts make their final change, bringing on Jony in place of Fernando Sales.

Espanyol have a free kick as a result of the Martinez challenge, but waste it when half the team ends up offside as the ball is drilled in by Garcia.

CHANCE! A perfectly-timed pass forward for Sergio Garcia sees the Espanyol dangerman through on goal with only Hernandez to beat, but he can't get the better of the Alcorcon keeper.

CHANCE! Espanyol are really pressing for a late equaliser now, as Garcia picks out Moreno on the edge of the box, who in turn tees it up for Lopez, but the substitute's finish is poor, never troubling the Alcorcon keeper.

Ever member of the Alcorcon team is in their own half as they desperately try to hold on to their lead. Meanwhile, sparks fly between the two teams again as Cordoba appears to catch Jony is the face with a flailing elbow.

CHANCE! Garcia comes close to levelling things up as the game heads into three minutes of stoppage time, but Alcorcon deflect his effort wide for a corner, which they easily clear, and Pacheco goes on the counter-attack for the hosts.

BOOKING! Victor Sanchez halts Pacheco's charge, but gets himself booked in the process.

FULL TIME: Alcorcon 1-0 Espanyol

The home fans errupt as the referee blows the whistle for full time. The Segunda Division side get the better of their La Liga opponents in the first leg of their Copa del Rey tie thanks to a fantastic free kick from Daniel Pacheco.

So Espanyol will have work to do when they face Alcorcon again in seven days' time, when a place in the quarter-finals of the competition will be at stake. That's all from this match, but stick around for coverage of the later kickoffs, including Barcelona against Getafe, where Lionel Messi is on the bench, and join us again tomorrow for the rest of this round's fixtures. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening, goodbye.

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