Home ›› 06 Jan 2023 ›› Sport
Ansu Fati snatched an extra-time winner for Barcelona in a thrilling 4-3 victory over third-tier Intercity in the Spanish Cup round of 32 on Wednesday.
The minnows from Alicante nearly embarrassed Barcelona with former La Masia youth player Oriol Soldevila scoring a superb hat-trick to force extra-time, before Fati’s deflected strike settled the tie.
Ronald Araujo headed home after just four minutes from youngster Pablo Torre’s corner, making it look like Barca would breeze into the last 16.
The Uruguayan defender made a lively comeback from the thigh injury which kept him from starting for his country at the World Cup, also clearing an effort off the line.
Ferran Torres and Ousmane Dembele spurned opportunities for the visitors before Intercity struck a shock equaliser, with Soldevila netting from close range after the ball was nodded into his path from a corner.
Dembele executed a fine chip to put Barcelona back in front when he was sent through in the 66th minute.
Intercity levelled again when Soldevila produced a fine header to beat Inaki Pena but Raphinha stroked home Jordi Alba’s low cross to restore Barcelona’s lead.
However Soldevila completed a remarkable hat-trick against his former side after a Marcos Alonso slip-up to force extra-time.
Substitute Fati came close at the start of the additional period and then fired Barcelona ahead with a deflected strike which looped home in the 104th minute, and it proved decisive.
“It was the magic of the cup,” Araujo told Movistar.
“It will serve us to learn from, the cup is like this, we know that.”
