Girona knock Atletico out of Copa del Rey in six-goal thriller
Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Girona's Alex Granell celebrates REUTERS/Sergio Perez
MADRID (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid crashed out of the Copa del Rey to Girona on Wednesday following a highly entertaining 3-3 draw at home to the Catalan side, who sneaked through to the quarter-finals on away goals after the tie finished 4-4 on aggregate.
Atletico substitute Antoine Griezmann looked to have completed a late turnaround for Diego Simeone's side, who were trailing 2-1 in the second half, when he put the hosts 3-2 up in the 84th minute.
Yet Girona forward Seydou Doumbia delivered a final twist in the saga by scoring at the other end four minutes later.
Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann and team mates react after conceding their third goal scored by Girona's Seydou Doumbia REUTERS/Sergio Perez
Croatian forward Nikola Kalinic had fired Atletico into an early lead but the packed Wanda Metropolitano stadium was stunned into silence by a jaw-dropping volley from Girona winger Valery Fernandez in the 36th minute.
Atletico, already missing several first-team regulars to injury, lost Spain midfielder Saul Niguez to a muscle problem early in the second half.
They suffered another setback soon after when Cristhian Stuani headed Girona in front following a free kick, sparking furious but futile protests from Atletico who claimed the Uruguayan had fouled their captain Diego Godin.
Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann is shown a yellow card by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz REUTERS/Sergio Perez
Griezmann came off the bench on the hour mark and soon threaded a pass towards Kalinic which Argentine winger Angel Correa squeezed under Girona's goalkeeper to equalise.
Godin then hit the crossbar and Santiago Arias had a goal ruled out for offside as Atletico chased a winner.
France forward Griezmann prompted wild celebrations when he smashed into the roof of the net, but the mood was soon punctured by Doumbia, also a substitute, who poked home a shot from Borja Garcia to send Girona through and dump out Atletico, who have not won the Copa del Rey since 2013.
Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their third goal with team mates REUTERS/Sergio Perez
(Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Toby Davis)
Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Nikola Kalinic in action with Girona's Bernardo REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Santiago Arias in action with Girona's Gorka Iraizoz REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann shoots at goal REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa scores their second goal REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Girona's Cristhian Stuani celebrates scoring their second goal with Valery Fernandez REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Girona's Cristhian Stuani scores their second goal REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Girona's Valery Fernandez in action with Atletico Madrid's Thomas Lemar REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Jose Gimenez in action with Girona's Cristhian Stuani REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Nikola Kalinic in action before scoring their first goal REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Nikola Kalinic celebrates scoring their first goal with Koke REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Nikola Kalinic in action REUTERS/Sergio Perez
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