UD Las Palmas featured several new faces in their line-up for tonight’s las 16 return leg in the Spanish Cup. Making his debut was Jairo, from Mainz 05, while Halilovic made a return following several months on the sidelines through injury, and Raúl Lizoain once again started in goal. The tie became a formality for Valencia in Mestalla, with an inspired Vietto netting three goals.
Valencia took the game to their opponents in the rain, making the most of the score draw a week ago in the Estadio Gran Canaria. Marcelino’s side had five shots on goal in the first twenty minutes. Two of them were clear chances, by Nacho Gil and Zaza. Las Palmas couldn’t get into the game, and were unable to string together any scoring chances. The team are in the building process since the arrival of Jémez.
Despite a fine save by Raúl Lizoain, keeping out an effort by Italian striker Zaza, new Valencia signing Vietto put the ball away from the rebound to score the first goal of the night (min. 29). The tie became tough for the away team, above all because they were unable to trouble the goal defended by home goalkeeper Doménech.
A header by Mauricio Lemos, from a free kick swung into the box, could have been the equalizing goal. A well-placed Doménech was able to keep it out. In the last minute of the half, Calleri had the ball in the back of the net with a header, but the referee disallowed his effort allegedly for a foul.
With only a few minutes on the clock in the second half, Valencia went 2-0 ahead, in the 48th minute. Once again Vietto, this time with a lob, beat Raúl Lizoain. 3-0 duly came with a shot from outside the box by Maksimovic, in the 54th minute. It was Vietto’s night, however, as he scored his hat-trick and his team’s fourth goal, from half way. UD Las Palmas were left to ponder on their exit from this year’s Spanish Cup, with an aggregate score of 5-1.
