Espanyol savour Copa del Rey glory

Luis García scored twice as RCD Espanyol swept aside ten-man Real Zaragoza 4-1 to claim the Copa del Rey for the second time in six years.

Tamudo header
The Catalan outfit enjoyed a dream start when Raúl Tamudo handed them a second-minute lead, after César Sánchez could only parry Iván de la Peña's bending free-kick back into the path of the Spanish striker. But having beaten Real Madrid CF and Espanyol's city rivals FC Barcelona en route to the final, Zaragoza have been a force to be reckoned this season and equalised through Ewerthon just before the half-hour mark.

De la Peña achievement
Luis García restored Espanyol's advantage before half-time with a fine header and there proved no way back for Zaragoza at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. Ferrán Corominas made it 3-1 with 19 minutes remaining, racing clear and slotting through the legs of César Sánchez, and the goalkeeper's evening was to go from bad to worse five minutes later when he was dismissed. Luis García then sealed victory with a low, bobbling shot with four minutes remaining as team-mate De la Peña picked up his fourth Copa del Rey title.