AMSTERDAM – Oguchi Onyewu helped Málaga become the first team to reach the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey, going the distance in a 4-1 come-from-behind win on Tuesday over second-leg visitors Eibar to take the two-legged tie on 5-2 aggregate.
After settling for a share in the first leg, the Anchovies quickly fell behind the third-flight mites on aggregate thanks to Rubén Arroyo's 12th-minute strike. Onyewu, who kept his area tidy all night, was not at fault on the play. The hosts took their sweet time to warm up, and then flipped on the style over the final quarter-hour to bag four unanswered goals.
Málaga seem certain to open the quarterfinals at Barcelona on Jan. 16, provided the defending champs make a 2-0 advantage stand up at Camp Nou against Segunda División strugglers Córdoba on Thursday. The Catalans will want to watch out for Onyewu, who has scored in the opening game of each of the last two rounds.
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Meanwhile, over in England's Capital One Cup, Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj were both given the night off as Aston Villa slipped to a 3-1 loss in the away leg of their semifinal tie with League Two underdogs Bradford City.
