Minnow Poli Ejido beats Espanyol 3-2 in Copa

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Third-division giant-killer Polideportivo El Ejido beat Espanyol 3-2 in the first leg of a fifth-round Copa del Rey match on Wednesday.

However, the only other lower-league team remaining in the last 16, third-division Real Union, saw its hopes of reaching the quarterfinals dwindle with a 1-0 defeat against visiting Real Betis.

In other matches marked by bitter cold and poor attendances, it was: Racing Santander 1, Valencia 1: Sevilla 2, Deportivo La Coruna 1; and Sporting Gijon 3, Valladolid 1.

The second legs are next week.

On Thursday, Osasuna welcomes Athletic Bilbao and Almeria travels to Mallorca.

El Ejido, which eliminated Villarreal in the previous round, rallied in the second half through Jorge Molina's 50th-minute penalty and Juli Cerda's 60th-minute shot after Moises Hurtado had headed Espanyol into a 16th-minute lead.

Roman Martinez leveled for the visitors in the 72nd with a chipped shot, only for El Ejido midfielder Jose Antonio "Chico" Diaz to produce a spectacular long-range winner four minutes later.

Hurtado was ejected for a second yellow card in the 81st.

In the quarterfinals, El Ejido or Espanyol will meet Barcelona, which won 3-1 at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday courtesy of a hat trick by Lionel Messi.

Real Union, which eliminated Real Madrid in the previous round, fell to Betis midfielder Damia Abella's solo effort in the 12th minute.

Defending champion Valencia had left winger Vicente Rodriguez and right back Miguel Brito sent off in separate incidents just before the final whistle at Santander.

Miguel lost his temper after receiving his red card, running up to the assistant referee and shouting insults. The Portugal international was then grappled by Valencia coach Unai Emery and dragged off the field.

Valencia took the lead in the 37th minute when Santander midfielder Gonzalo Colsa glanced a header from Manuel Fernandes' corner past his own goalkeeper.

After Santander defender Ezequiel Garay missed a 49th-minute penalty, midfielder Mehdi Lacen leveled for the home team in the 55th with a low free kick which curled around the Valencia wall.

Sevilla, the cup winner in 2007, only squeezed past Deportivo La Coruna and failed to relieve the pressure on beleaguered coach Manolo Jimenez.

The home team led in the 31st minute through Luis Fabiano's curling free kick. Nine minutes later, Frederic Kanoute turned home Diego Capel's header to double the advantage.

Deportivo increased its chances of turning the tables in the second leg when Omar Bravo netted from close range in the 80th.

Gijon was favored to appear in the last eight after overpowering Valladolid with three goals before halftime.

David Barral netted in the 10th and 19th, with Carmelo Gonzalez adding the third in the 37th.

Valladolid gave his team a glimmer of hope through Fabian Canobbio's headed goal in injury time.

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