Copa Del Rey: Sevilla dominate second leg

Copa del Rey holders Seville dispatched Villarreal 3-0 on Tuesday to continue their trophy defence into the semi-finals.

Goals from Dirnei Renato, Frederic Kanoute and Alexis Ruano at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan helped Seville – who beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 in last season’s final – to a 6-3 aggregate win.

The quarter-final was there for the taking after a 3-3 draw in the first leg at Villarreal’s El Madrigal on January 12, but it was the hosts who seized control in the second encounter.

Renato put Seville ahead with a tap in after just seven minutes.

The veteran Brazil international smacked the ball home inches before it crossed the line after Alvaro Negredo chipped Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

Seville then struck twice in the space of three second-half minutes to put the outcome beyond doubt.

Both came from corners, delivered by Ivory Coast international Romaric.

The first was converted by former Tottenham striker Kanoute on 47 minutes, before Alexis found the net by the same route shortly afterwards.

In more positive news for the winners, defender Sergio Sanchez made his return to the Seville team for the first time in over a year following heart surgery.

“I felt very well and very comfortable,” Sanchez said.

“I want to thank my team mates who have made everything easier for me.”

Seville will face either Real Madrid or a rematch of the final against Atletico in the last four.

The capital rivals meet in their second leg on Thursday, with Real holding a 3-1 lead from the first match at the Santiago Bernabeu.