02/05/26 04:13:00
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02/05 16:11 CST Lookman scores on his debut as Atletico Madrid cruises past
Real Betis to reach Copa semifinals
Lookman scores on his debut as Atletico Madrid cruises past Real Betis to reach
Copa semifinals
By TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer
MADRID (AP) --- Ademola Lookman scored on his Atletico Madrid debut in a 5-0
rout of Real Betis on Thursday that sent Diego Simeone's team to the semifinals
of the Copa del Rey.
David Hancko, Giuliano Simeone, Antoine Griezmann and Thiago Almada also scored
for Atletico as it advanced to the last four for the third straight season.
Atletico will try to reach its first Copa final since winning the competition
for the last time in 2012-13.
The draw for the semifinals --- which also includes Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao
and Real Sociedad --- will be on Friday.
Hancko opened the scoring for the visitors in the 12th minute and Giuliano
Simeone added to the lead in the 30th before Lookman got his first goal for
Atletico on a breakaway in the 37th. Griezmann scored the fourth goal in the
62nd and Almada closed the scoring in the 83rd.
Lookman was signed from Atalanta near the end of the winter transfer window.
The 28-year-old Nigeria forward had requested to leave Atalanta citing broken
promises and poor treatment.
Atletico and Betis will meet again on Sunday in the Spanish league, with
Atletico as the host. Atletico is third in the league, with Betis in fifth
place but 10 points behind Atletico.
On Wednesday, Iaki Williams scored six minutes into stoppage time as Athletic
Bilbao won 2-1 at Valencia to reach its sixth Copa semifinal in seven seasons,
while Basque Country rival Real Sociedad made it to the last-four for the third
straight season by winning 3-2 at Alaves.
On Tuesday, Barcelona beat second-division Albacete 2-1. Albacete had
eliminated Real Madrid in the round of 16.
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