( dpa ) - Valencia picked up their seventh Spanish King's Cup on Wednesday by beating hapless Getafe 3- 1 in an eventful final played in Atletico Madrid's Estadio Vicente Calderon.
Valencia won with goals from Spaniards Juan Mata, Alexis Ruano and Fernando Morientes.
Esteban Granero had pulled a goal back, but it was not enough to save Getafe from a second successive final defeat. Last season they lost 1-0 to Sevilla.
The unlikely triumph means that Valencia have salvaged something positive from the wreckage of a traumatic season - and gives them a place in the UEFA Cup.
The win will also give a little breathing space to embattled Valencia coach Ronald Koeman, who was delighted to win the tactical battle against Michael Laudrup, his former Barcelona team-mate.
"The boys really deserved to win tonight," gasped a breathless Koeman at the end.
Valencia captain Ruben Baraja dedicated the win "to our wonderful fans, who have to suffer a lot this season."
Getafe striker Manu del Moral could only bring himself to say that "this is another disappointment for us."
Getafe have never won a trophy and were cruelly edged out of the UEFA Cup last week by Bayern Munich.
The final kicked off with no less than 15 Spaniards on the field, a rare situation in this age of globalized football.
Around 25,000 Valencia fans had made the trip to Madrid and were rewarded with a dream start by their team.
After just three minutes David Villa set up David Silva to centre from the left. His centre was cleverly headed in by Mata.
Just eight minutes later Valencia scored again, and Silva was again the provider. His curling corner was headed in by defender Alexis, who easily shrugged off his marker Manuel Tena.
Valencia were then content to sit back and play on the break, allowing Getafe 57 per cent possession.
Just before half-time Getafe were given a penalty for a foul by Emiliano Moretti on Cosmin Conta. Granero put in his penalty off the post - and Getafe were back in the game.
Laudrup's team dominated the second half but were kept at bay by faultless German goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand.
Six minutes from time super-sub Morientes made it 3-1 for Valencia, by heading in the rebound after Getafe keeper Oscar Ustari had failed to hold a long-range Baraja free-kick.
In injury time Getafe defender Fabio Celestini was sent off for an ugly foul on man-of-the-match Silva.