Malaga become the latest top-flight Cup casualties

Lowly Ciudad de Murcia continued their giant-killing exploits with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory against Malaga in the third round of the King's Cup on Thursday.

Villarreal came close to sharing Malaga's fate after they were forced also forced into penalties by second division Levante, but their victory will hardly compensate for a serious injury to Argentine striker Martin Palermo.

Ciudad de Murcia, who knocked out Sevilla in the last round, took the lead a minute into the second half only to see Malaga peg them back with a Miguel Roteta 15 minutes from the end of normal time.

Neither side were able to break the deadlock in extra-time and it was the humble third division outfit that kept their heads when it came to the penalties to ensure their passage into the last 16 of the tournament.

After normal time ended goalless Palermo gave Villarreal the lead eight minutes into extra time.

But the burly striker had to be taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle after a barrier collapsed when he went to embrace the crowd to celebrate his goal.

Levante drew level two minutes before the end of extra-time to send the game into a penalty shoot-out, but the first division side edged a 5-4 victory.

Malaga's defeat made them the 13th first division side to have fallen victim to lower ranked opponents in the last two rounds of the competition.

Alaves, Celta Vigo, Las Palmas and Osasuna all went out earlier this week to join eight other top flight sides, including Barcelona and holders Real Zaragoza, who were knocked out in the second round last month.

Real Madrid and Deportivo Coruna are, however, among the seven first division sides to make it through to the final 16 of the competition.

Real safely negotiated their way into the next round with a 3-1 win over a battling Lanzarote on Wednesday, with the goals coming from Albert Celades, Guti and Francisco Pavon.

For Real the Cup has taken on special significance this season as the final is due to be played at their Santiago Bernabeu stadium on the 100th anniversary of the club's foundation on March 6, 2002.

With so many upsets in the first rounds the top flight sides will no doubt be relieved that the competition reverts to its traditional two-leg format in the next round which is scheduled to begin on December 12.