Valencia’s Copa del Rey campaign came to an end on a dramatic night at Mestalla, as Athletic Bilbao secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory in their quarter-final clash, despite a rollercoaster performance from Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq.
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The visitors took the lead in unfortunate circumstances in the 26th minute, when Sadiq inadvertently turned the ball into his own net while attempting to deal with a dangerous delivery. The own goal handed Athletic Bilbao an early advantage and briefly silenced the home crowd.
However, the Super Eagles forward showed resilience and character to make amends. In the 35th minute, Sadiq reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box after a costly error from Athletic goalkeeper Alex Padilla, calmly finishing with his left foot to restore parity for Valencia. It was his only goal of the night and a moment that underlined his striker’s instinct.
The second half was evenly contested, with both sides creating chances. Athletic Bilbao had a golden opportunity to reclaim the lead in the 76th minute, but Stole Dimitrievski produced a superb save to deny Mikel Jauregizar from the penalty spot, keeping Valencia in the contest.
Just when extra time seemed inevitable, Athletic Bilbao struck late drama. In the 90+6th minute, Iñaki Williams rose to the occasion, firing home with his right foot after a well-timed assist from his brother Nico Williams, sealing victory for the Basque side.
Despite Sadiq’s contrasting contributions, Athletic Bilbao march into the semi-finals, while Valencia are left to rue missed opportunities and a heartbreaking late concession.
