Mixed fortunes for top-flight teams

By Andy Hall

Real Betis Balompié and Club Atlético de Madrid both earned comfortable first-leg cushions in Wednesday night's Copa Del Rey third-round ties, but CD Numancia and Athletic Club Bilbao were defeated by lower-league opponents.

Betis bounce back
Betis were forced to come from behind at CD Mirandés but eventually ran out 3-1 winners in northern Spain. Captain Rodrigo Mateos put Mirandés ahead with a blistering free-kick just after half-time, but Edu headed an equaliser in the 75th minute and Ricardo Oliveira nodded a second a minute later. Ismael López gave the Andalusian team a two-goal cushion with a late third.

Braulio on target
Antonio López's superb strike shortly before half-time gave Atlético the lead at Lorca Deportiva CF, but the home side levelled just past the hour with an equally spectacular strike from Alexandre Oliviera. The top-flight team ultimately prevailed however, with Pablo Ibáñez and young striker Braulio Nóbrega striking in the last ten minutes to earn a 3-1 victory.

Elche enjoyment
CA Osasuna earned a 2-0 win against Getafe CF, with Iñaki Muñoz and Mohamed El Yaagoubi both finding the net. Rubén Suárez's 48th-minute penalty, meanwhile, was sufficient to give second division Elche CF a 1-0 advantage over Numancia in Alicante, the visitors ending the game with ten men following the dismissal of midfield player César Palacios.

Three for Alejandro
In the night's other upset, Athletic fell behind midway through the first period at third division UD Lanzarote, Alejandro Suárez scoring in the 21st minute. The same player inadvertently scored the next goal 15 minutes later, turning the ball into his own net to bring Athletic level, but atoned for his error a minute before the interval with another strike that earned a 2-1 victory for the home team.