Barcelona Routs Sevilla, Overturns 1st-Leg Deficit to Reach Copa Semifinals
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – Philippe Coutinho scored two goals to help give Barcelona a 6-1 win over Sevilla on Wednesday and a spot in the Copa del Rey semifinals after easily overturning a two-goal deficit from the first leg.
Barcelona had lost 2-0 away last week but advanced 6-3 on aggregate after Coutinho produced his best game of an up-and-down season for the Catalan club, which remained on course for a fifth consecutive cup crown.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both scored late goals with the pair of star strikers back in Barcelona's starting lineup after getting some rest when their teammates lost in Seville.
Coutinho opened the scoring in the 13th minute by converting a penalty earned by Messi, and Sevilla then missed two excellent chances to equalize.
Barcelona goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen made excellent saves to deny Andre Silva from close range and stop Ever Banega's penalty after Gerard Pique fouled Roque Mesa.
Ivan Rakitic then turned in a perfectly-weighted long pass by Arthur for Barcelona's second goal in the 31st.
Coutinho got his second in the 54th with a glancing header from Suarez's lobbed pass. Messi then passed for Sergi Roberto to add another in the 54th.
Sevilla wing back Guilherme Arana blasted in a long strike in the 66th to give his team hope until Suarez and Messi capped the victory in the final minutes.
