BILBAO, Spain: Benat Turrientes fired Real Sociedad into a 1-0 Copa del Rey semifinal first leg lead at Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.
American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo’s La Real, unbeaten in nine games across all competitions since he took charge, impressed at Athletic’s San Mames stadium and deserved their derby triumph.
On Thursday holders Barcelona visit Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the second semifinal.
Real Sociedad took a convincing step toward reaching the Seville final as they continued their run of fine form under New Jersey native Matarazzo.
Athletic, 24-time winners — more than any side other than Barcelona — have struggled for consistency this season and were second best in front of their disappointed fans in a typically intense derby clash.
La Real slowly inched up the pressure during the first half and had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down before half-time when Aymeric Laporte handled Duje Caleta-Car’s header.
They largely dominated after the interval and Pablo Marin struck the post from close range after Athletic goalkeeper Alex Padilla saved Mikel Oyarzabal’s effort.
Lively Portuguese winger Goncalo Guedes fired wide before creating the only goal of the game in Bilbao.
Guedes was taken out by Padilla as he ran through but the referee played advantage as Turrientes fired the winger’s pass, released just before the collision, into an empty net.
Spain winger Nico Williams had a shot blocked for Athletic at the other end but it was Real Sociedad creating more danger and looking more likely to score a second than concede a leveller.
The second leg takes place on March 4 at the Reale Arena.
Matarazzo’s Real Sociedad beat Athletic in Copa semi first leg
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Matarazzo’s Real Sociedad beat Athletic in Copa semi first leg
- Real Sociedad took a convincing step toward reaching the Seville final as they continued their run of fine form under New Jersey native Matarazzo
Morocco part company with coach Regragui as World Cup looms
RABAT: Morocco parted company with coach Walid Regragui on Thursday, three months before the World Cup, with the country’s football federation naming Mohamed Ouahbi as his replacement.
Regragui leaves despite having led the Atlas Lions to the World Cup semifinals in 2022 and to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations at the beginning of this year.
“I leave my post with loyalty, gratitude, and the certainty that I have served my country,” he declared during a ceremony broadcast live on television, confirming weeks of persistent rumors that he was on his way out.
Ouahbi, 49, is promoted to the role having overseen Morocco’s triumph at the Under-20 World Cup in October, with the federation describing the move as “a strategic transition” in the run-up to the World Cup in North America in June and July.
“It’s a desire not to waste time and to take a different direction,” a source close to the Moroccan Federation told AFP.
“By appointing Mohamed Ouahbi and welcoming top-tier reinforcements, we are raising our standards and our demands,” the source said.
Morocco will be in Group C at the World Cup along with five-time winners Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.
They begin their campaign against Brazil at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City on June 13 and will be hoping to make a big impression at the tournament before co-hosting the 2030 edition with Spain and Portugal.
“Our ambition is to consolidate our place among the best nations in a sustainable way and to perform well from this summer, as well as in 2030,” the leader of the Moroccan federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, said recently.
Regragui was hailed in 2022 after Morocco became the first African nation in World Cup history to reach the semifinals, beating Spain and Portugal along the way.
However, Regragui likely paid the ultimate price for the manner in which Morocco lost the recent AFCON final to Senegal.
His team were beaten 1-0 after extra-time at the end of a match marred by the Senegal team’s decision to walk off the pitch in protest at the award of a controversial late penalty to the hosts.
The penalty award with the game goalless sparked trouble in the crowd involving Senegal fans, 18 of whom were jailed following the disruption.
Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz eventually took the penalty after a long delay but his kick was saved and Senegal went on to win the game.
