Lookman scores but Atletico lose Copa Del Rey final to Real Sociedad

Ademola Lookman scored Atletico Madrid’s first goal of the night but could not prevent his team from losing the Copa Del Rey title to Real Sociedad 4-3 on penalties.

Similar to their 1987 meeting in the competition’s final, the match finished 2-2 in regulation time, and the teams could not be separated after extra-time, before Real Sociedad nicked it on penalties at the Estadio de La Cartuja.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria forward who joined Atletico in the January transfer window looked to become only the second Nigerian to win the Copa Del Rey final, he however became the second Nigerian to end up on the losing side in the final.

Real Socieded stunned Atletico with the lead on 15 seconds through Ander Barrenetxea’s header, netting the fastest goal in the competition’s history. Lookman equalized with a low shot into the far bottom corner for 1-1, becoming only the second Nigerian to score in the competition’s final, joining George Finidi on the list.

Mikel Oyazabal’s penalty restored the Basque side’s lead but Julian Alvarez’s wonder strike forced extra-time and penalties where Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Moreno saved two penalties to claim the Copa Del Rey title for the first time in six years.

The triumph is the sixth title in the club’s history, and coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, the first US-born coach to qualify an European team for a final, became the first American to win a major trophy in Europe, and in one of Europe’s “Big Five” leagues.

Atletico Madrid will look to the UEFA Champions League for succor, where they face Arsenal in the semi-final for a chance to reach another final in 10 years where Lookman and Diego Simeone can claim the club’s first ever UCL title.