After escaping the Balaidos in Galicia with a 0-0 draw in the first leg, supporters of Deportivo Alaves knew that a chance at history was theirs at the Estadio Mendizorrotza, home of the club since 1924. Never in the 96-year history of the club had they reached the Copa del Rey final, and the second leg against Celta Vigo was played on a knife edge.
Just under 20,000 crammed into the stadium in Basque Country to see if their club, which is playing in La Liga this season for the first time since 2005-06, could advance to play 28-time winners Barcelona.
It's fair to say there was a decent atmosphere pre-match at the Estadio Mendizorroza. Wow. #tsfpAtTheGames @PhilKitro @sidlowe pic.twitter.com/56MwNQVCK8
— Spanish Football Pod (@tsf_podcast) February 8, 2017
Bouncy #tsfpAtTheGames @tsf_podcast pic.twitter.com/Us3utXtsoE
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) February 8, 2017
With the match entering the 82nd minute, Edgar Mendez, a Real Madrid youth product who’s since bounced around Spanish teams, became a club legend when his left-footed shot beat Sergio Alvarez.
GOOOOOOOL!
Alaves scores to go up 1-0 in the #CopaDelReyLooks like it'll be Barca-Alaves in the final. pic.twitter.com/QlTHrANTcW
— go90Sports (@go90Sports) February 8, 2017
With the referee’s final whistle, s*** hit the fan.
Quite literally fireworks here pic.twitter.com/57Ubia7tcv
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) February 8, 2017
The 2017 Copa del Rey Final will take place on May 27.
