Espanyol in Copa del Rey quarter-finals

Barcelona: RCD Espanyol defeated Villarreal 3-1 in the second leg of their Copa del Rey knockout stage tie to advance to the quarter-finals 5-3 on aggregate. In the wake of the 2-2 draw in the first leg in Villarreal, Espanyol coach Joan Francesc Ferrer promised that his team would be playing for the win from the opening whistle at RCDE stadium in Barcelona, reports Efe. The hosts were dominant in the opening minutes here on Thursday, yet Villarreal worked their way into the contest. While both teams showed ambition, Espanyol were the more determined and their intensity bore fruit in the 32nd minute, when Pepe Castaño dragged down Borja Iglesias in the area and the referee awarded a penalty. (IANS)