Valencia 1 Real Betis 0 (3-2 agg): Rodrigo secures Copa final against Barcelona

Rodrigo Moreno's strike secured a 3-2 aggregate win for Valencia over Real Betis in the second semifinal of the Copa del Rey.

Rodrigo Moreno scores the lone goal against Real Betis.

Valencia will face Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey after a 1-0 second-leg win over Real Betis secured a 3-2 aggregate semifinal victory.

Rodrigo Moreno's goal early in the second half was enough to see off Betis at Mestalla and clinch a first final of any kind for Valencia in 11 years.

The result completed an impressive turnaround in the tie for Marcelino's side, which trailed 2-0 after less than an hour of the first leg three weeks ago only to snatch a 2-2 draw thanks to Kevin Gameiro's injury-time equaliser.

Its edge on away goals left it in a decent position and it managed the game superbly against a Betis side which sits three points and two places above it in LaLiga but now misses out on the chance to contest a final in its home stadium.

In search of an early breakthrough, Betis threatened through Joaquin's well-struck drive from the edge of the box, before Jese Rodriguez saw a clever shot on the turn parried over by Jaume Domenech.

Aissa Mandi then glanced the resulting corner narrowly wide, as Valencia, apparently content to wait for the chance to counter-attack, began to invite more pressure.

However, 11 minutes into the second half, the home side struck. Betis' defence failed to get organised and Mandi played Kevin Gameiro onside, allowing the Belgian to chip the ball across to Rodrigo, who volleyed in.

A deflated Betis came close to a lifeline through Mandi and a fierce Sergio Canales strike, but it is Valencia who will meet treble-chasing Barca, which knocked out Real Madrid on Wednesday.