Racing de Santander have progressed to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey after beating Almeria 2-0 at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos this evening.
Second-half strikes by Verdiblancos players Mariano and Ruben Duran proved the difference between the two sides as the Segunda Division B outfit came out on top, winning the tie 3-1 on aggregate.
The first chance of the game fell to the home side in the 13th minute, as Fran Velez's cross was deflected towards the near post, but Mario Fernandez was able to push it wide. Oriol Lozano cleared the resulting corner.
Just three minutes later, Mariano skilfully beat Velez, but the Almeria defender managed to put his body in the way and gain a free kick.
On the half-hour mark, an Almeria goal was disallowed. Oscar Diaz headed home from a Suso cross, but the referee judged him to be offside.
Midway through the second half, Aleix Vidal's delivery found Suso unmarked at the far post, but the on-loan Liverpool attacker sliced his effort high and wide of the crossbar.
Just before the hour, Diaz had another chance, once again assisted by Suso, but the forward turned his effort wide of the post.
Against the run of play, Racing scored just a few minutes later, as a cross from Pedro Orfila fell to Mariano. His header flew past keeper Oscar Ustari to give Los Racinguistas a 1-0 lead.
Almeria, who recently lost 6-1 to Athletic Bilbao in the league, conceded a second goal with 11 minutes to go. Duran was able to collect a loose ball inside the Rojiblancos box before firing his effort into the top corner.
The away side threatened to make it 3-0 on several occasions, but Mamadou Kone wasn't able to convert his chances towards the end of the game.
Giuseppe Labellarte
