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Barca crash out of Spanish Cup

Barcelona's Thierry Henry, right, and Xavi Hernandez react during their Spanish King Cup match at the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia on Thursday. PHOTO: AFP

Juan Manuel Mata scored two goals on Thursday and Valencia held off a Barcelona rally to earn a 3-2 victory and a berth in the Copa del Rey final.

Mata put Valencia 3-1 up in the 73rd, a minute after Barcelona substitute Thierry Henry's header had cut Valencia's lead to one.

Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o curled a left-footed shot around goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand in the 81st, but Barcelona couldn't score the necessary equalizer and were eliminated 4-3 on aggregate.

Valencia captain Ruben Baraja opened the scoring with an impressive shot from distance in the 18th, shooting across goal and into the top corner beyond Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

Mata capped a Valencia breakout in the 45th with a quick shot that beat Valdes at the near post.

Valencia, six-time Spanish cup champions, will play Getafe, who advanced to their second straight final on Wednesday, drawing 1-1 at Racing Santander for a 4-2 aggregate victory.

The final will be played at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium on April 16.

Barcelona, a 24-time cup champion, held Valencia 1-1 in the first leg played at the Camp Nou.

"Sometimes football holds inexplicable things and this is one of them," Valencia coach Ronald Koeman said. "Valencia played thier two best games in a long time in this series."

The result is bound to heighten demands from Barcelona's supporters for them to win the Spanish league, where the Catalans trail Real Madrid by seven points with 10 games remaining. They have also reached the European Champions League quarter-finals after ending last season with no silverware.

Coach Frank Rijkaard lamented Barcelona's wasted chances but refused to blame his players.

"I don't think you can say that the team didn't fight," the Dutchman said. "Whoever wants to look for blame should look in my direction because I am the coach."

Ronaldinho was left out for Barcelona, who were without injured regulars Lionel Messi, Deco, Rafael Marquez and Giovani Dos Santos. Defensive midfielder Yaya Toure returned from a back injury.

Barcelona nearly struck first. Gabriel Milito's fourth-minute header was cleared off the line by Hedwiges Maduro, a minute before Xavi Hernandez tested the Valencia goalkeer Timo Hildebrand from distance.

Baraja's goal came after Valencia forced a turnover, and he sent a powerful shot from outside the area past the sprawled Valdes.

Valencia stayed on the attack but Barcelona enjoyed better chances, including Bojan Krkic's roller that went across the goal in the 24th.

Valencia, who have struggled to 10th place in the league since the arrival of Koeman, continued their better cup form with a second goal just before half-time. Though Joaquin Sanchez lost control after streaking into the area, the ball fell to Villa, who set up Mata for his low shot from the left.

Barcelona pressed early in the second half, Eidur Gudjohnsen volleying over in the 50th and Krkic shooting wide in the 68th.

With Henry having replaced Toure, he put Barcelona ahead, finishing fellow substitute Silvinho's run and cross from in front of the goal.

Valencia quickly stemmed the momentum, converting their next possession when Silva eluded his marker and found Mata with a cross at the far post.

Krkic shot over the crossbar from close range after Eto'o's goal but Valencia held out to reach their 16th final.
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