Beasain 2000, the night Real Sociedad hit rock bottom in the Copa del Rey | OneFootball

Real Sociedad’s 2021 Copa del Rey broke a 34-year wait, weighted by years of Cup humiliation. The nadir came on 13 December 2000 at Segunda B neighbours Beasain, a fiasco that precipitated president Luis Uranga’s exit and elections.

Between 1995 and the mid-2000s, Real were dumped out by 10 lower-tier sides in 12 seasons, with nine first-round exits. Diario Vasco recounts how anger festered, before a revival with a trophy, a final and two semi-finals.

The slump began on 8 November 1995 against Numancia. Beaten 2-0 in Soria, goals from De Pedro and Karpin at Anoeta forced extra time, but a shootout defeat followed after Aranzabal’s red left goalkeeper Alberto to miss the 10th kick.

Osasuna, in Segunda, followed in 1996, and Logroñés in 1999. In 2000, with Javier Clemente sacked and the league form dire, Periko Alonso still named a full-strength eleven for Loinaz.

Sukia scored in minute seven, Khokhlov replied, then Sukia converted a penalty as Gonzalo Arconada’s Beasain outworked the visitors. Tension flared in the tribune and Uranga resolved to leave that night.

Further exits mounted, Hospitalet on artificial turf, Zaragoza from Segunda in 2002/03, Alavés, penalty defeats to Mirandés and Zamora of Segunda B, and Málaga.

In 2011/12, a 2-0 first-leg lead at Mallorca became 6-1 after four goals between 36 and 40. In 2017, Primera RFEF side Lleida scored three in a half at Anoeta, and Juanmi Jiménez even asked if that third meant elimination.

Source: Diario Vasco