Valencia edges Sevilla

updated 7:05 p.m. ET Jan. 5, 2012

BARCELONA, Spain - Jonas scored in the first half to help Valencia beat Sevilla 1-0 on Thursday in the opening leg of a round-of-16 matchup in the Copa del Rey.

Jonas scored in the 33rd minute. The Brazilian forward received a pass, cut back to his right foot, and curled a shot around goalkeeper Andres Palop from the left side of the area.

Valencia and Sevilla are the last Spanish teams to have won domestic titles other than Barcelona and Real Madrid. Valencia won the Copa in 2008 and Sevilla lifted the trophy in 2007 and 2010.

Earlier Thursday, a 10-man Espanyol became the latest top-flight team to lose to a lower-division opponent this week when second-tier Cordoba scored two late goals in a 2-1 comeback win.

Sergio Garcia gave Espanyol the lead in the 38th minute before goalkeeper Kiko Casilla was sent off with a red card for fouling Cordoba striker Jose Diaz in the area.

Substitute goalkeeper Cristian Alvarez blocked Diaz's resulting penalty in the 54th, but he could do little to stop Borja Garcia's long shot in the 81st after it took a friendly deflection off a defender.

Cordoba pressed for the winner, which came 4 minutes later when Carlos Caballero volleyed in a cross.

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Valencia edges Sevilla

Jonas scored in the first half to help Valencia beat Sevilla 1-0 on Thursday in the opening leg of a round-of-16 matchup in the Copa del Rey.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45892862/ns/sports-soccer/

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