01/13/26 05:11:00
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01/13 17:09 CST Griezmann's free-kick goal sends Atletico Madrid to the Copa
del Rey quarterfinals
Griezmann's free-kick goal sends Atletico Madrid to the Copa del Rey
quarterfinals
By TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer
MADRID (AP) --- Antoine Griezmann scored with a well-placed free-kick shot to
give Atletico Madrid a 1-0 road win over second-division club Deportivo La
Corua and a spot in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey on Tuesday.
Griezmann broke the deadlock in the 61st minute, finding the right upper corner
with a curling left-foot strike.
"I didn't know where to hit it, whether to the side of the goalkeeper or over
him, and instead of shooting hard, I tried to place it over the wall."
It was the fifth goal in the last six matches for the 34-year-old Griezmann.
"Griezmann is a game-changer," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. "He still has
that magic touch of wanting to compete and help the team."
The result ended a two-game skid for Atletico. Simeone's team was coming off a
2-1 loss to Real Madrid in the semifinals of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi
Arabia and a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad in the Spanish league.
Atletico sits in fourth place at the halfway point of the Spanish league
season, 11 points behind leader Barcelona.
The match was stopped for a few minutes near the 70th minute after Deportivo
goalkeeper Germn Parreo sustained a cut on his mouth following a collision
with Griezmann. The goalkeeper stayed on the game after team doctors sutured
his lips on the field.
Other Copa results
In a match between first-division teams, Real Sociedad eliminated Osasuna 4-3
in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in regulation and extra time.
Osasuna took a two-goal lead --- Jon Moncayola scored in the fourth minute and
the second goal came with an own-goal by Mikel Oyarzabal in the 17th --- but
the hosts rallied with Beat Turrientes finding the net in the 75th and Igor
Zubeldia forcing extra time with a goal two minutes into stoppage time.
Oyarzabal missed a penalty kick in extra time.
Athletic Bilbao, playing with 10 men from the 56th because of a red card to
Aitor Paredes, edged past second-division team Cultural Leonesa 4-3, with Unai
Gmez scoring the winner by converting a penalty kick late in the first half of
extra time.
The teams drew 3-3 in regulation in a game that featured a thrilling first half
in which each team scored three times. The hosts led in three occasions but
allowed Athletic to equalize every time.
On Wednesday, Real Madrid visits second-division club Albacete, while Barcelona
is at Racing --- also in the second tier --- on Thursday.
The round of 16 is played in single elimination games.
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