Our Copa del Rey campaign came to an end in the second round with a penalty shootout defeat to CF Fuenlabrada having ended extra time with the scoreline at 2-2.
Luis García Plaza warned of rotation in his pre-match press conference following injuries to several senior players as Franco Russo, Aleix Febas and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta were the only players to retain their place in the starting XI following our 2-2 draw with Real Oviedo. Notable introductions included academy graduate Fran González being handed his first-team debut at centre back, while teenager Luka Romero and cup goalkeeper Miquel Parera also featured.
Looking to avenge our 3-2 loss to Los Kirikos in the final game of 2020, we couldn’t have wished for a better start when Aleksandar Trajkovski scored his first goal for the club with an unstoppable drive past the outstretched Pol from outside the box in the 11th minute.
Settling into our rhythm having taken an early lead, Braian Cufré would have the next chance of the game when his whipped free-kick crept just wide of the far post close to the half-hour mark.
Parera would see out the opening 45 minutes denying Álex Mula and then Randy Nteka as a tightly-contested first half ended with us having enjoyed the majority of possession and limiting the hosts’ renowned counter-attacking threat.
The hosts came flying out after the restart in search of an equaliser and got their reward in the 55th minute when Adrián Diéguez found the bottom corner with a low effort at the near post.
The opposition enjoyed a spell of position in our final third having been emboldened by their leveller as Moisés Delgado struck wide before Mula and substitute Pathé Ciss tried their luck from outside the box to little avail.
Aleix Febas came closest to a late winner when he fired over the bar from inside the box in the 76th minute, while late opportunities for Trajkovski and Murilo couldn’t prevent the game from heading to extra time.
Fran Gonzalez’s unfortunate own goal in the 100th minute saw our Copa del Rey campaign edge to conclusion, although substitute Abdón Prats’ late leveller via well-taken strike close to the penalty spot in the 118th minute sent the tightly-contested fixture to penalties.
With both sides converting their first two spot kicks, Parera swung matters in our favour with a fine save to deny Franchu Feuillasier, although Braian Cufré missed the decisive penalty to send the shootout to sudden death. Antonio Sánchez was unlucky to hit the post with the scoreline at 7-6 as our Copa del Rey campaign came to an end in the second round in Madrid. Attention now turns back to Segunda División action as we host Las Palmas on Matchday 21 at the Visit Mallorca Estadi.
RCD Mallorca: Parera, Cufré, Russo, Fran González (106'), Gámez, Febas (82’), Ruiz de Galarreta (90’), Murilo, Trajkovski (81’), Luka (90’), Alegria (72’)
Substitutes: Leo, Salva Sevilla (82’), Lago Junior (81’), Baba (90’), Sastre, Abdón (106’), Antonio Sánchez (90’), Bravo, Ibra (72’)
CF Fuenlabrada: Pol, Moi (105’), Diéguez, Jano, Peñas, Valentín, Cácerers (65’), Fuentes (72’), Mula, Ntekja, Awudu
Substitutes: Sotillos (105’), Cristian, Kante, Bribas, Gutiérrez, Ciss (65’), Cristobal, Belman, Feuillassier (72’)
Goals: Aleksandar Trajkovski 11’, 0-1; Adrián Diéguez, 55’, 1-1; Fran Gonzalez (99) 100’, 2-1; Abdón 118’, 2-2
