A bitter and painful defeat for CD Tenerife against RCD Mallorca prevented the Tenerife side from advancing to the next round. The game carried a heavy Balearic drama until the final play, with pressure and tempo defining the entire encounter.
From the opening whistle, both teams pressed with intent. Each side aimed to unsettle the other, building a sequence of exchanges where the only clear objective was to put points on the board and edge ahead in the tie. The atmosphere suggested a truly knockout duel, and the stakes amplified every touch, run, and cross. Tenerife sought to press Mallorca high, while the visitors countered with sharp transitions and disciplined defense, meaning there were moments of danger on both ends from the start.
The first scoring opportunity came early when local striker Gallego angled a diagonal drive past the goalkeeper Greif, delivering a test that skimmed the post and marked the opening note of a tense encounter. Mallorca responded with a dangerous effort of their own as Abdón struck a precise shot after a cross from Amath on the right. The attempt forced a sharp save from Tomeu Nadal, who deflected the ball for a corner and kept the scoreline level at a pivotal early stage.
As the minutes ticked by, the match retained its brisk pace and intensity on both sides, but clinical finishing proved elusive for the attacking teams. The scoreboard remained still as the teams exchanged chances, feeds, and near-misses through a lively first half that ended without a breakthrough. The duel thus entered a period of parity, with neither side able to tip the balance before the break.
After the obligatory fifteen-minute break, the game picked up again with a slightly more cautious cadence. Abdón carved out a notable chance in the final quarter of the match, but again the finishing failed to materialize. The contest extended into extra time, and the teams faced a weary but determined push for a decisive goal. The initial half of extra time produced no definitive moments of attacking merit, aside from a visible fatigue that made concerted forays towards goal more challenging.
With the second period of extra time underway, Darder executed a reliable free kick in front of the goal, Nadal gathered with some difficulty, and the ball was tucked away for a corner. Moments later, Giovanni unleashed a powerful effort from distance, forcing a clearance as both sides clung to the hope that a late moment of magic could decide the tie before penalties became a factor.
As coaches and players waited for the shootout, a late twist arrived when Larin found a loose ball near the penalty area and fired a low shot past the keeper to secure Mallorca’s advancement and a place in the quarterfinals. The final whistle rang with Mallorca celebrating the late breakthrough and Tenerife left to reflect on a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Data sheet
0 – CD Tenerife: Tomeu Nadal; Aitor Buñuel, Sipcic, José León, Loïc, Medrano; Sergio González, Aitor Sanz; Alexandre, Álvaro Jiménez, Roberto López, Teto; Enric Gallego.
1 – RCD Mallorca: Greif; David López, Nastasic, Copete; Giovanni, Darder, Mascarell, Van der Heyden; Amath, Javi Llabrés, Abdon.
Goals: 0-1, minute 120 plus 1, Larin.
Referee: Mario Melero López. Local time: 96th minute for Álvaro Jiménez; visiting coach Javier Aguirre acknowledged; notable cautions included Amath, Raillo, Mascarell, Javi Llabrés, Dani Rodríguez and Giovanni in stoppage time.
Event: The Copa del Rey last-16 match drew 20,176 spectators at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium.