Getafe lauded after agonising exit

Modest Primera Liga club Getafe won praise from all quarters yesterday following their brave exit from the UEFA Cup at the hands of Bayern Munich.

Their quarter-final second leg ended 3-3, a result that put the debutants out on the away goals rule following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Germany.

Getafe were down to 10 men from the sixth minute on Thursday, but led 1-0 until two minutes from normal time when Bayern equalised.

They went 3-1 up in extra time but two late goals from Luca Toni took the score to 4-4 on aggregate, sealing the German club's place in the semi-final.

"Despite it all, you are our heroes," sports daily Marca said on the front page. Daily El Pais had: "Getafe suffer the cruellest of defeats."

Sports daily AS wrote: "It was an immense, unforgettable match that was on the point of sealing one of the greatest feats in Spanish football, but instead finished bathed in tears."

The King of Spain was in the stands to watch the match and Getafe president Angel Torres said: "His majesty asked me to give coach Michael Laudrup and his players his best wishes and to congratulate them for the effort they put in."

Getafe, who are in only their fourth season in the Spanish top flight, qualified for Europe after reaching their first King's Cup final last year, where they lost 1-0 to Champions League-bound Sevilla.

They beat Tottenham, Anderlecht and Benfica to make the UEFA Cup last eight, and in the quarter-final first leg in Munich had grabbed a dramatic 90th-minute equaliser.

"I have never experienced anything like this," Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn was quoted as saying in Marca.

"Getafe fought like madmen for 120 minutes and in these circumstances it is difficult to perform. We are obviously delighted but you have to feel for them."

Getafe have to pick themselves up for a league match at home to Real Zaragoza tomorrow and then take on Valencia in their second consecutive King's Cup final next Wednesday.

"I have to compliment Getafe as they played a great game and were on the point of humiliating us," Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said.

"I wish them all the best for the rest of their season especially for next week. We will all be supporting them in the King's Cup final."