Real into semis, Valencia tie abandoned
A coolly taken strike from Robinho earned Real Madrid a 1-0 victory over holders Real Betis at the Bernabeu that sent them into the semi-finals of the King's Cup on Wednesday.
Real, who also won the first leg 1-0, were joined in the last four by Espanyol who completed an emphatic 4-0 aggregate win over Cadiz with a 2-0 victory at Montjuic, midfielder Jofre scoring both goals.
But the evening's action was marred by events during the game between Valencia and Deportivo Coruna which was called off after the linesman was hit by an object thrown from the crowd at the Mestalla.
The official was cut on the forehead moments after Valencia striker David Villa put the home side ahead to level the tie 1-1 on aggregate just over a minute before halftime.
Referee Carlos Megia Davila ordered the players to the changing rooms and announced that the game had been abandoned.
The Spanish Football Federation will now decide if the game is to be continued at a later date or abandoned altogether.
Real Zaragoza and Barcelona play the first leg of their rescheduled quarter-final on Thursday.
Real, who have made it clear that they have set their sights on winning the Cup this season after their poor start in the league, enjoyed all the early play at the Bernabeu.
Centre-back Sergio Ramos had a header cleared off the line after a David Beckham corner and two minutes later Doblas made a sharp save with his foot to turn a goal-bound shot from Italy striker Antonio Cassano past the post.
The pace slowed soon after and it was not until the final 10 minutes of the first half when Betis finally pushed forward into attack that the game sparked into life once again.
Dani tried his luck with a looping header and winger Joaquin was denied by a fine reflex save by Iker Casillas after he had weaved his way into the area.
It was Real, though, who ended up taking the lead after Casillas had hurled the ball out to Zinedine Zidane two minutes from the break.
The Frenchman found Beckham who slipped the ball to Robinho on the left and the Brazilian, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday, jinked his way past a defender into the area before slotting the ball into the far corner.
Espanyol had litle problem completing their victory over Cadiz thanks to two goals from midfielder Jofre.
He scored his first when he clipped in from 10 metres out after winger Juanfran had wriggled his way into the area from the right midway through the second half.
Four minutes later he added a second from the penalty spot after he had been brought down by Cadiz defender Jose de la Cuesta.
Trailing 1-0 after last week's first leg, Valencia faced an even more difficult task after defender Carlos Marchena was sent off for hitting Depor striker Angel Arizmendi with his hand in the eighth minute.
But the home side fought their way back into the tie when Villa equalised just before the break only to see the game abandoned moments later.