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Atletico draws 2-2 with Sevilla to reach Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid

By: The Associated Press

Posted: 02/27/2013 5:26 PM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 02/27/2013 6:27 PM

SEVILLA, Spain - Atletico Madrid lined up a Copa del Rey final against city rivals Real Madrid after drawing 2-2 with a Sevilla side that finished with nine men on Wednesday.

First-half goals by Diego Costa and Radamel Falcao in the semifinal, second leg match secured a 4-3 victory on aggregate, following a 2-1 home win last month.

"We are proud, we knew how to take on this game," Falcao said. "Being in the final is very important for Atletico. We knew we had to come out and take this game, and that there would be gaps and chances created."

Costa opened the scoring after six minutes, wrong-footing three defenders before beating goalkeeper Antonio Bastos with a shot inside the far post. The Brazilian's goal took his tally during this season's Copa to seven, with four scored in the last three matches.

Costa then raced up the left flank and made a precise cross to the centre of the penalty area for Falcao to score his 63rd goal for Atletico in the 29th minute.

Sevilla winger Jesus Navas pulled one back with a spectacular long shot in the 39th, his first goal this season, and Sevilla coach Unai Emery refreshed his attack in the second half by bringing on Manuel del Moral for Jose Antonio Reyes.

But Sevilla was reduced to 10 men when midfielder Gary Medel was dismissed for a second yellow card in the 76th following a fracas between players.

And Rakitic's equalizer on the night at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium was then followed by a straight red card for Sevilla's Geoffrey Kondogbia after he stamped on Costa.

Atletico had not eliminated Sevilla from the Copa in 60 years, while Sevilla beat Atletico in the 2010 final.

All three Copa finals played between the two Madrid teams at the Santiago Bernabeu have been won by Atletico, while the one played at the Vicente Calderon was won by Real Madrid.

A venue for the final on May 18 has yet to be set by Spain's football federation.

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