Espanyol edge into Copa del Rey final

RCD Espanyol reached the Spanish Cup final after a goalless second-leg draw against RC Deportivo La Coruña at the Riazor took the Barcelona outfit through 2-1 on aggregate.

Madrid final
The Catalan side, who last lifted the trophy in 2000, will meet Real Zaragoza in the final at Real Madrid CF's Santiago Bernabéu stadium in April after soaking up all that Deportivo could throw at them in the return. Luis García and Walter Pandiani scored their first-leg goals.

Kaméni save
Raúl Tamudo could have eased Espanyol's nerves as early as the second minute, however, but placed a header wide and the hosts began an aerial bombardment in an attempt to force their way back into the tie. Deportivo found Espanyol's Carlos Kaméni in fine form, though, the Cameroonian goalkeeper saving Pedro Munitis's opportunist strike just before half-time.

Tristán gamble
Deportivo coach Joaquín Caparrós brought on Diego Tristán for the second period but the Galicians' leading scorer could not fashion a goal, and when Luis García broke away for Espanyol on 63 minutes, the home team's fate could have been sealed. However, José Molina proved as difficult to beat as his opposite number. Xisco Muñoz had a late chance to take Deportivo through on away goals, but spurned the opportunity as three-time winners Espanyol advanced.