Barca scrape past Intercity in Spanish Cup thriller

Madrid, Jan. 6: Ansu Fati snatched an extra-time winner for Barcelona in a thrilling 4-3 victory over third-tier Intercity in the Spanish Cup round of 32 on Wednesday. The minnows from Alicante nearly embarrassed Barcelona with former La Masia youth player Oriol Soldevila scoring a superb hat-trick to force extra-time, before Fati's deflected strike settled the tie.

Ronald Araujo headed home after just four minutes from youngster Pablo Torre's corner, making it look like Barca would breeze into the last 16.

Ferran Torres and Ousmane Dembele spurned opportunities for the visitors before Intercity struck a shock equaliser, with Soldevila netting from close range after the ball was nodded into his path from a corner.

Dembele executed a fine chip to put Barcelona back in front when he was sent through in the 66th minute.

Intercity levelled again when Soldevila produced a fine header to beat Inaki Pena but Raphinha stroked home Jordi Alba's low cross to restore Barcelona's lead.

However Soldevila completed a remarkable hat-trick against his former side after a Marcos Alonso slip-up to force extra-time.

Substitute Fati came close at the start of the additional period and then fired Barcelona ahead with a deflected strike which looped home in the 104th minute, and it proved decisive.

Elsewhere Atletico Madrid earned a 2-0 win at second-tier Real Oviedo with goals from Marcos Llorente and talented youngster Pablo Barrios, while Sevilla also racked up a big win.

Jorge Sampaoli's side, struggling in La Liga, thrashed Linares 5-0, including a hat-trick for Moroccan World Cup hero Youssef En-Nesyri.

Ruthless Kane lifts Spurs 

Harry Kane lifted the gloom at Tottenham on Wednesday, scoring twice in a convincing 4-0 win against Crystal Palace as Nottingham Forest hauled themselves out of the relegation zone.

Forest beat bottom side Southampton 1-0 while troubled Wolves drew 1-1 at Aston Villa and struggling West Ham shared the points with Leeds in a 2-2 draw.

Spurs were second best in the first half at Selhurst Park, lacking zip in attack and had goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to thank for keeping the score at 0-0 but it was a different story after the break.

England captain Kane scored twice in five minutes in his 300th Premier League appearance to move just two goals behind Jimmy Greaves' all-time record of 266 goals for Spurs.

Tottenham broke the deadlock in the 48th minute when Ivan Perisic crossed to Kane from the left and he neatly nodded past Vicente Guaita at the near post.

Kane doubled Spurs' lead when the ball fell to Bryan Gil on the right and he flicked a pass to the England forward, who sent a low strike unerringly into the bottom left corner.

Matt Doherty made it 3-0 midway through the second half and Son Heung-min completed the scoring four minutes later, lifting Spurs to 33 points -- just two behind fourth-placed Manchester United.

Nottingham Forest climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone courtesy of a precious 1-0 victory, which heaped more misery on basement club Southampton.

Taiwo Awoniyi's fifth goal of the season earned his team a first top-flight away success of the season to strengthen their survival hopes.

Steve Cooper's resurgent side have now taken 11 points from the past 21 available, having only managed six from the previous 33, and fully merited a significant triumph on the south coast.

West Ham were on course for their first league win since October when they took a 2-1 lead against Leeds at Elland Road but Spain international Rodrigo equalised in the 70th minute.

Daniel Podence fired Wolves into the lead at Villa Park but Danny Ings levelled in the 78th minute to ensure Wolves remained in the relegation zone. (AfP)