Athletic Bilbao Wins Copa del Rey in Dramatic Fashion
Bilbao Beats Mallorca in Extra Time
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Athletic Bilbao has emerged victorious in the Copa del Rey final, capturing the trophy for the third time in the past six years. The Basque side overcame a resilient Mallorca in a thrilling encounter that went into extra time, ultimately securing a 2-1 victory.
In a match marked by intense defense and limited scoring opportunities, Athletic Bilbao's Inaki Williams broke the deadlock in the 84th minute with a powerful header. However, Mallorca refused to be deterred, equalizing just four minutes later through Dani Rodriguez's composed finish.
With the game seemingly destined for a penalty shootout, Athletic Bilbao found a dramatic winner in extra time. In the 115th minute, Alex Berenguer slotted home a low drive from close range, sending the San Mames crowd into a frenzy and sealing the club's 24th Copa del Rey triumph.
The victory marks a significant achievement for Athletic Bilbao, who have now won the Copa del Rey more times than any other Spanish club apart from Barcelona and Real Madrid. It also provides a boost to manager Marcelino Garcia Toral, who has overseen a resurgence in the team's fortunes since his arrival in January.
For Mallorca, the defeat will be a bitter pill to swallow, having come so close to a historic upset. However, the team's performance in the final should provide encouragement for the future as they look to build on their progress under coach Luis Garcia Plaza.
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