Ourense CF has secured a monumental upset victory over Real Valladolid, defeating them 3-2 to advance to the Copa del Rey Round of 16. This match, held at the Municipal Stadium of O Couto, saw Ourense rally from behind twice, displaying remarkable resilience and footballing prowess against their top-tier opponents.
The game took off with Valladolid taking the lead early on, just over ten minutes in, when Raúl Moro executed a stunning individual goal, curling the ball past the Ourense goalkeeper, Pato Guillén. This moment, which would normally send shivers down the spines of lesser teams, barely phased the blue and black contingent. They quickly responded through Jairo Noriega, who, after receiving the ball due to defensive complacency from the visitors, unleashed a thunderous strike to level the score just two minutes later.
Valladolid, trying to regain control, struck again midway through the first half thanks to Selim Amallah, who latched on to another excellent cross from Raúl Moro to restore their narrow lead. Yet, the night was not without tribulations for the visitors, who faced injuries to key players. Their goalkeeper, Karl Jakob Hein, had to leave the pitch at halftime after suffering from what seemed to be serious physical distress. His replacement, André Ferreira, now had the tough job of containing Ourense, who were emboldened by their early success.
Trailing once again, Ourense refused to succumb. With relentless energy, they maintained their game plan of organized defense and crisp ball distribution. Right at the beginning of the second half, they capitalized on their momentum and struck again through Ángel Sánchez. A sublime individual effort from the edge of the box saw him score the third goal and celebritize the occasion for the exuberant local crowd.
This goal sent shockwaves through Valladolid, leaving their coach Diego Cocca scrambling for solutions. Despite the setbacks, including losing Raúl Moro to injury with only twenty minutes left and already having used up all their substitutions, the Valladolid players tried hard to level the score once more. Their plight appeared ominous when they faced being reduced to ten men.
Nevertheless, Palacio’s squad managed to conjure up two significant chances as they searched for equality. A free kick from Mario Martín grazed the post painfully, and Iván Sánchez was denied by Pato Guillén, who made yet another stunning save in the dying minutes of the match. Ourense, meanwhile, found themselves with great opportunities on the counter, spurred on by their incredible home support.
With the clock running down and anxious faces among the visitors, the resilience of Ourense's players became clearer. They not only defended fiercely but also showed flashes of creativity — much to the excitement of their supporters. Deep down, the local fans shared the belief echoed by their players: anything was possible with courage and teamwork on display.
Eventually, the referee's whistle blew after six tense minutes of stoppage time, confirming Ourense's place among the elite as they celebrated their historic victory. For the first time in 25 years, Ourense CF is through to the Round of 16, recalling the last time when they faced the mighty Barcelona under then-manager Louis Van Gaal. This triumph remains imparted on the hearts of the fans and players alike, embodying the essence of the Copa del Rey: dreams can become realities, and anything can happen on the pitch.