Deportivo mount comeback
Wednesday, February 5, 2003
Article summary
RC Deportivo La Coruña kept their Spanish Cup hopes alive with a late rally against RCD Mallorca.
Article body
Hard-earned win
Mallorca had accounted for Real Madrid CF in the quarter-finals, and must have felt they already had one foot in the final when they moved into a 3-0 lead at the Riazor. Uruguayan forward Walter Pandiani, who is on loan at Mallorca from Deportivo, opened the scoring on 39 minutes with his 12th goal in 16 games.
Pandiani strikes again
Pandiani struck again ten minutes from time and two minutes later Samuel Eto'o snatched his side's third. However, a Diego Tristán penalty two minutes before the end gave Deportivo hope and Roy Makaay registered in the 90th minute to narrow the deficit even further. Mallorca, who have never won the trophy, remain favourites to advance to the final for the first time since 1998 but Deportivo are far from out of it.
Thursday match
On Thursday night, RC Recreativo de Huelva meet Club Atlético Osasuna in the competition's other semi-final first leg.
