Sevilla Advances in Copa del Rey with Win Over Sporting Hortaleza

The Sevilla soccer team secured its passage to the second round of the Copa del Rey on Thursday evening after defeating the regional amateur side Sporting Hortaleza 3-0 at the Municipal El Val stadium in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid. Despite facing a determined opponent and an irregular pitch, the visitors managed to control the flow of the match thanks to goals from Robbie Ure, Gerard Fernández known as Peque, and Rubén Vargas.

Managed by Luis García Plaza, Sevilla fielded a heavily rotated lineup featuring several players who typically see fewer minutes, such as goalkeeper Fran González, central defender Íker Muñoz, and midfielder Nico Guillén. The tactical setup aimed to manage squad fatigue while maintaining a competitive edge in the tournament's opening round.

The initial stages of the match proved more demanding than the final scoreline suggested. Sporting Hortaleza, playing in the main stage of the competition for the first time, utilized the backing of their supporters and the challenging turf conditions to disrupt Sevilla's passing rhythm during the opening minutes.

Sevilla broke the deadlock in the 24th minute when Alfon González delivered a cross from the right flank, allowing Robbie Ure to head the ball past goalkeeper Pablo Martínez. The opening goal provided the necessary momentum for the visiting squad, forcing the home team to stretch its defensive lines.

Shortly before halftime, in the 40th minute, Sevilla doubled its lead from the penalty spot. Referee Luis Bestard Servera penalized Sadjo Fati for a foul inside the area against José Ángel Carmona, and Peque successfully converted the penalty kick to put the visitors ahead 2-0 going into halftime.

Any hopes of a second-half comeback by Sporting Hortaleza were effectively extinguished in the 56th minute. Peque drove a quick counterattack and provided an assist to Swiss international Rubén Vargas, who scored with a low right-footed shot to seal the 3-0 victory.

The closing stages of the match allowed the coaching staff to give further minutes to substitutes such as Jon Guridi, Fábio Cardoso, Manu Bueno, Manuel Ángel Castillo, and Ibra Sow. Sporting Hortaleza continued to compete until the final whistle but failed to trouble the Sevilla defense significantly.

With the win secured, Sevilla turns its attention back to league play, preparing for an upcoming fixture against Getafe CF, while Sporting Hortaleza concludes a historic cup run that marked their debut in the competition's main rounds.