Copa del Rey soccer: Lionel Messi scores twice in Barcelona win
by Alex ButlerJan. 31 (UPI) -- Lionel Messi scored two second-half goals in Barcelona's 5-0 win against Leganes, helping to lift his Spanish soccer squad into the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.
Messi scored in the 59th minute and 89th minute of the lopsided affair Thursday at Camp Nou in Barcelona.
Antoine Griezmann drew first blood in the fourth minute of the round of 16 matchup. Messi played a through ball into the box for right back Nelson Semendo at the start of the play. The Barcelona defender then passed back to Griezmann, who brought the ball in before using his second touch to blast a shot through a defender's legs and into the left side of the net.
Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet doubled the lead in the 27th minute after Messi sent a corner kick in from the right side. The ball curved toward the near post, before Lenglet jumped and used his head to flick a shot into the far-post netting, beating Leganes keeper Ivan Cuellar for a second time.
Barcelona took the 2-0 lead into the half before Messi added some insurance in the 59th minute. Midfielder Frenkie de Jong played a long pass ahead for Messi during that exchange, leading the Barcelona star up the right flank. Messi weaved between several defenders before ripping a shot off Leganes defender Kevin Rodrigues and into the net.
Teen phenom Ansu Fati recovered a loose ball in the Leganes box to spark Barcelona's fourth scoring sequence. Fati fired a shot, but it was blocked by Cuellar and the ball deflected out to Messi, who then had his shot denied by Leganes center back Chidozie Awaziem. The ball then deflected out to Arthur Melo, who ripped in a shot from point-blank range in the 77th minute.
Messi used some crafty footwork for his second goal, which came after Ivan Rakitic played a pass ahead for the Barcelona star and found Messi in the box. Messi used his first touch to tap the ball away from a diving Cuellar and jumped over the downed Leganes keeper before using his second touch to rip a shot into the top part of the net.
"It's easier when you score a goal early in the game, but I think we improved a lot in our positioning," de Jong told FCBarcelona.com. "I think this was the biggest improvement."
Barcelona next faces Levante in La Liga play at 3 p.m. EST Sunday at Camp Nou. They face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals Tuesday at San Mames in Bilbao, Spain.
(0) Leave a comment
upi.com/6980643
Latest Headlines
World News // 3 minutes ago
Belgium jury acquits 3 doctors in landmark euthanasia case
Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A Belgium jury acquitted three doctors of manslaughter charges Friday in connection to the 2010 euthanasia case of Tine Nys.
World News // 36 minutes ago
Britain readies to leave EU Friday night, begin 11-month transition
Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Britain is preparing to officially leave the European Union on Friday in a largely symbolic but historic moment, after more than three years of debate and bitter division over an uncertain future.
U.S. News // 3 hours ago
Pentagon now says 64 troops injured in Iran strike
Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The Pentagon has again revised up the number of U.S. soldiers diagnosed with brain injuries following an Iranian missile attack on U.S. bases in Iraq earlier this month to 64.
Health News // 5 hours ago
Study links vegetarian diet to fewer UTIs
Urinary tract infections plague millions of Americans. Now new research suggests that what they eat might have a role to play.
U.S. News // 5 hours ago
Montana ranchers, conservationists lock horns over free-ranging bison
Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A new state plan to allow bison to be categorized as wildlife has Montana ranchers and livestock producers pitted against conservationists.
U.S. News // 5 hours ago
Impeachment: Rep. Demings brings law and order to House managers team
Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Rep Val Demings is relying on her background as an Orlando, Fla., police chief, as she navigates perhaps her highest profile role yet -- that as a House manager in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial.
World News // 5 hours ago
Deaths from coronavirus top 200 in China; cases near 10,000
Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The number of confirmed coronavirus cases climbed on Friday to nearly 9,800 worldwide as the daily death toll in China hit a record 43 -- bringing the total to 213 since the outbreak began last month.
Health News // 6 hours ago
Suicidal thoughts, self-harm sending more in U.S. to ER
Men and women are flooding America's emergency rooms because of suicidal thoughts and injuries from harming themselves, with the CDC this week reporting a 25.5 percent increase in ER visits for them from 2017 to 2018.
Science News // 8 hours ago
Ancient shark found inside Kentucky's Mammoth Cave
Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Scientists have identified the 330-million-year-old remains of an ancient shark inside Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park.
U.S. News // 9 hours ago
Impeachment: Susan Collins to vote for witnesses, Lamar Alexander against
Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Two Republicans who had indicated they might side with Democrats in voting to allow witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump announced their intent on Thursday night.