Sevilla set up a King's Cup showpiece clash against Barcelona with a 6-2 aggregate semifinal victory over Celta Vigo after a 2-2 second-leg draw Thursday. Sevilla conceded for the first time in this season's competition in the 35th minute when Celta Vigo's Iago Aspas met Fabian Orellana's left-wing cross at the far post and tapped past Sergio Rico. Europa League holder Sevilla, which won the first leg 4-0 at home last week, almost equalized seven minutes later but midfielder Vicente Iborra's header hit the post. Aspas struck again 10 minutes into the second half, scoring from a right-wing cross by Daniel Wass after a poor clearance by Rico. Two minutes later, however, Argentina midfielder Ever Banega pulled one back for Sevilla with a solo effort that virtually secured his team's passage to the final. Celta could have restored their two-goal lead with a penalty on the hour, but John Guidetti, who had been brought down by Rico, hit the post from the spot. Sevilla equalized against the run of play three minutes from fulltime when Ukrainian winger Yevhen Konoplyanka scored on the rebound after Vitolo's shot was parried by goalkeeper Ruben Blanco. Sevilla midfielder Steven Nzonzi was sent off after the match following his second yellow card and he will miss the final. "This comes as recognition of our work," Sevilla coach Unai Emery said. "I'm proud of our team, although there is still some room for improvement, especially in these away games." Sevilla had won all of its seven Copa del Rey matches so far. It hadn't conceded a single goal while scoring 20. It will be Sevilla's first appearance in the final since it won the title for the fifth time in 2010. Barcelona is playing in the final for the third straight season, and sixth time in eight years. It has won the tournament a record 27 times. It still hasn't been decided which stadium will host the final. Barcelona beat Valencia 8-1 on aggregate in the other semifinal. Lazio eases past Verona Journeyman striker Alessandro Matri opened the floodgates for Lazio in an error-strewn 5-2 win over hapless Verona which was left rooted to the bottom of Serie A Thursday. Verona travelled to the Stadio Olimpico looking for only their second win of the campaign against a Lazio side desperate to end a three-game winless streak. By the end, Luigi Delneri's visitors were given a stark reminder of what it will take to beat the drop as Lazio moved up to provisional seventh place at 20 points behind leader Napoli. Matri broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time after running on to Danilo Cataldi's smart through ball into the area to fire a low angled strike past Pierluigi Gollini. Cataldi produced his second assist of the game minutes after the restart when captain Stefano Mauri was left alone yards from goal to drill the midfielder's cross low into the net as Gollini came out to block. When Felipe Anderson scored on 69 minutes it was even easier, the Brazilian firing into an empty net as Verona's defense was left scratching its heads after Matri pounced on to a loose ball to fire his delivery across the area. Verona reduced the arrears only three minutes later when Leandro Greco sent a great dipping free kick over the wall and into the top corner to leave Federico Marchetti with no chance. Lazio was given a scare seven minutes later when Luca Toni pushed his marker away to toe-poke a cross from the left wing past a rooted Marchetti. But all hopes of a fightback were extinguished only three minutes later when second-half substitute Keita Balde arrived late in the area to volley Miroslav Klose's perfect delivery past Gollini. Antonio Candreva wrapped up the points with a well-struck penalty after Senad Lulic had tumbled in the area under a challenge from Gilberto. — Agencies
