Madrid, January 26:

The Spanish Cup quarter-final between Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna was abandoned after 44 minutes on Wednesday after an assistant referee was hit and injured by an object thrown from the crowd.

The incident happened after David Villa had put Valencia ahead in front of their home fans at the Mestalla to make the score 1-1 on aggregate. Television pictures showed the official being hit in the face and suffering a cut just below his right eye.

Referee Megia Davila immediately decided to lead the players from the pitch and to the dressing rooms before calling the match off.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid booked their place in the semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Real Betis for a 2-0 aggregate. Brazilian star Robinho grabbed the only goal just before the break after a sweeping move which began with goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

He rolled the ball to Zinedine Zidane whose quick pass found David Beckham. Beckham, in turn, released Robinho whose classy finish beat the Betis keeper from a narrow angle.

English League Cup

MANCHESTER: Manchester United will face Wigan in next month’s League Cup final after Louis Saha struck his fifth goal in the competition to clinch a 2-1 win over Blackburn. An outstanding display by Blackburn’s American goalkeeper Brad Friedel ensured there was uncertainty about the outcome until the end. But a Wayne Rooney-inspired United certainly deserved to earn a shot at securing the first piece of silverware of the Malcolm Glazer era, the decisive goal coming courtesy of Saha in the 51st minute after Steven Reid had cancelled out Ruud van Nistelrooy’s early strike for the home side.

United’s start could scarcely have been better, van Nistelrooy capitalising on an error by Blackburn defender Michael Gray to claim his 19th goal of the season in the eighth minute. But the home side’s composure was shattered by the equaliser Blackburn managed to conjure from nothing in the 32nd minute. United’s back four failed to deal decisively with a cross from Gray from the left and, after Kieran Richardson’s attempted clearance clattered into Wes Brown, Reid was left with a clear sight of goal. The full-back’s shot was directed almost straight at Edwin van der Sar but it had sufficient pace to slither under the United goalkeeper’s body.

Italian Cup

ROME: Alberto Gilardino scored four minutes from time to give AC Milan a 1-0 win over Palermo in the first leg of their Italian Cup quarter-final. AC Milan broke the deadlock when substitute Kaka outpaced Giuseppe Biava down the left wing and crossed to give Gilardino an easy tap-in from two yards out.

In Wednesday’s early match, Udinese drew 1-1 at home to Sampdoria. Antonio Di Natale gave Udinese a first-half lead before Aimo Diana equalised for the visitors.