Simao’s stunning late freekick put Atletico Madrid into the King’s Cup quarterfinals after a 5-1 win over Recreativo Huelva on Thursday.
An epic fightback saw them through 5-4 on aggregate after they overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit.
Simao curled his effort into the top corner six minutes from time after they looked to have blown their earlier good work.
Simao had set Atletico on their way after 22 minutes and goals from Sergio Aguero and Tomas Ujfalusi had them 3-0 up at the break.
Aguero’s shot was then deflected into the Recre net by visiting defender Troest after 62 minutes, but Atletico went on to press the self-destruct button.
Midfielder Paulo Assuncao was caught in possession in his own area allowing Carmona to grab an all-important away goal for Recre in the 71st, and then got himself sent off two minutes later.
But, despite being a man down, Atletico continued to press and Simao grabbed his second goal to set up a meeting with Celta Vigo.
“It was a spectacular game. We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel in the league as well but we must remain prudent,” coach Quique Sanchez Flores said.
“The player’s are euphoric but the emotions must be for the fans, we have to focus on our next game. We shouldn’t get carried away,” he said.
Earlier, a stoppage-time goal sent Real Mallorca into the quarterfinals after a 3-1 win over second division Rayo Vallecano put the La Liga side through 4-3 on aggregate.
Mallorca substitute Mario Suarez fired in from close range to complete an exciting comeback.
Visiting Rayo, who won the first leg 2-1 last week, had opened the scoring with an effort from Piti on the stroke of halftime.
Mallorca rallied with Victor heading the ball into the net at a corner in the 50th and then firing home at the far post 10 minutes later.
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