MADRID, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Espanyol became the third top-flight team to fall to lower league opposition in this season's Copa del Rey, losing its second round tie to fourth-tier Atletico Baleares on Thursday.
Espanyol made 11 changes to the lineup that won 1-0 against Celta Vigo in La Liga over the weekend, and Atletico Baleares striker Jaume Tovar Segui seized on a loose ball in the Espanyol area to score the game's only goal, sending the visitors out of the tournament alongside Oviedo and Girona.
Celta Vigo needed a penalty shootout to prevail against Sant Andreu. Alexis Garcia put the home side ahead in the 103rd minute, but Spain international Borja Iglesias equalized for Celta two minutes later. The match then proceeded to penalties, with Celta winning 7-6 after Sant Andreu missed the 14th spot-kick.
Rayo Vallecano was on the brink of following Espanyol out of the tournament, trailing 1-0 away to fourth-tier Real Avila, who led through Carlos Pascual's 50th minute goal.
Isi Palazon equalized in the fourth minute of injury time, with Alvaro Garcia Rivera scoring the winner when a penalty shootout was just a minute away.
Fifth-tier Cartagena nearly pulled off a significant upset against Valencia, opening the scoring at home. Lucas Beltran equalized in the 79th minute to send the match to extra time, where Cartagena had a chance to win it, but Kevin Sanchez saw his 120th-minute penalty saved. Valencia immediately capitalized, with Jesus Vazquez scoring from a corner a minute later to seal a dramatic victory.
Sevilla looked to be in for a much easier night after goals from Alfon and Isaac Romero put them 2-0 up away to fifth-tier Extremadura, but Geovanni Zarfino's 48th-minute goal for Extremadura kept the result in doubt until the end.
Elsewhere, second division sides Deportivo La Coruna, Albacete and Burgos also qualified for the third round. ■
