Joaquín, to heaven with her

Betis won its Third. He achieved it as he conquered his first, in the penalty shootout. Miranda wrote his name in the Verdiblanca legend, as is Esnaola’s for stopping the last of the shootout against Iribar in the 1977 final and Dani’s for his goal in extra time in 2005. “Yes, yes, yes the Cup is here” sang more than half of La Cartuja and the night in Seville was just beginning. Joaquín, who else, raised the trophy to heaven, to the same heaven where Yunus Musah sent Valencia’s fourth penalty, that he deserved it as much as Betis but that he is left without his Ninth and also without the ticket to Europe that he would have been awarded. In those two penalties the Spanish football party was resolved, with two capital fans in victory and defeat.

Betis hit first and soon. Bellerín beat Gayà and Borja Iglesias, the entire body to Paulista. The Panda finished as comfortable as it was powerful. Mamasdashvili could only wave his hands like a windmill. It was minute 10 and Pellegrini had the final as a bride at the altar. As if that were not enough, from very early on, Paulista had a yellow card, which was going to condition him when it came to tying Juanmi and Borja short, and the inaccuracies in the passes, Guillamón did not have his best day in circulation, generated unease in black and white morality. But neither Fekir nor Canales appeared regularly, and that’s where Valencia breathed. Those of Bordalás suffered on the wings and Betis almost traced their goal. This time on his left, with a center by Álex Moreno and a shot, again without a mark, by Juanmi. But he sent it out.

But whoever thought that all the cards in the final were going to be revealed because of the fact that the styles were defined was left somewhat disconcerted since the Valencia eleven was announced. Bryan Gil and Thierry Correia were not there, but Hugo Duro and Ilaix Moriba were. And it was precisely they who executed the counterattack that returned the tie to the final. Perfect assistance from Ilaix and delicious execution from Duro, who bounced the ball at Bravo’s exit and thereby raised the decibels of the stands where the black and white fans were noted even though they were in the minority. The clock marked the 30th minute and in that give and take of chants, I went there, Amunt there, he also found his reflection on the scoreboard.

The break was 1-1, although either of them could have won the first half in the 42nd minute. Hugo Duro wasted a counterattack with a bad pass that ventured as much danger as after the recovery from Betica he had a shot from Canales that repelled the post. There Betis and Valencia signed a truce until the break. The only one all night. The first part of Hernández Hernández was only known to have been completed due to the protests of the Valencianists due to the occasional loose hand left by Juanmi and Borja Iglesias, although without further influence in the game, and only during the fifteen minutes of retirement was silence heard in The Cartuja.

The final won everything with the passage through the changing rooms. Until the 90th minute, Betis and Valencia each had their moments. Out of Bordalás entered better. The ball circulated more around Carlos Soler’s feet and when this happens it is easier for good things to happen for his interests. It was there that Hugo Duro was able to crown himself with a second goal, but he incomprehensibly sent the ball over the goal shooting from almost inside the small area. But Betis woke up and the figure of Mamasdashvili became gigantic.

Betis became the owner of what Pelligrini likes so much and the chances fell like rain throughout the day in Seville. Borja Iglesias had it, Juanmi, twice, one of them to the post, Canales, Fekir and again Borja. But none could with the Georgian, who would leave La Cartuja with his name on the agenda of several clubs. Bordalás understood that he had to make a move if he didn’t want his dream of winning his first title to vanish, and even more so when Hernández Hernández looked the other way after a foul by Guillamón that could have cost him a second yellow card. The entry of Thierry, Bryan Gil and Racic balanced the forces, gave Che’s attack another speed, and Valencia once again looked Bravo in the eye. Thus, the last opportunity that there was not to reach the extra time was cut short by the Chilean after Soler’s shot.

The final changed days and grew in excitement. In the stands they left their voice, soul and passion, on the pitch their strength, encouragement and honor. Pellegrini was introducing the changes that he had not made until extra time, since only Joaquín had entered before 90, thus having, at 40 years of age, the leading role in the final that his career deserved. The game was broken, but they went from one field to another with more heart in their heads. The last passes were never good and so none found the goal that would make him champion, leading to a penalty shootout that is now the history of Spanish football.