Los jugadores sevillistas celebran el pase a la final
Match reports

2-0: SEVILLA FC QUALIFY FOR THE FINAL OF THE COPA DEL REY

07/02/2018
Sevilla FC put in one of the performances of their season to secure passage to the Final of the Copa del Rey. An early goal from 'Tucu' Correa strengthened the Nervionenses' grip on the tie and a last minute Franco Vázquez rocket sealed the deal. The 21st of April awaits...

It wasn't the first time, not even close, that Sevilla Football Club had found itself in a situation like this. Unlike the opponents Leganés who had never been so far in the competition, the Nervionenses had 90 minutes to achieve something they had done before but something that was no less special and no less worthy of treasuring. Controlling the match despite the excitement and enthusiasm of an incisive Leganés, Sevilla were able to close out their slender advantage in the tie with perfect professionalism. Correa's early goal put us one ahead but always just one bad stroke of luck away from the danger of extra-time, but a Franco Vázquez breakaway goal in the dying minutes of the game gave Leganés no way back and Sevilla had the ticket to the final in their hands. 

Montella showed no signs of looking to hang on to an away goal advantage come kick-off. Sevilla came out looking for control and found it through dominant possession. Though an opportunistic Beauvue had one chance to grab an early goal for the visitors, it was Banega, Vázquez and the hosts who were bossing the game and pressing forward. Our first true chance came on quarter of an hour after several warning shots had been fired. And it was a chance that we wouldn't fail to take. A wonderful Luis Muriel tackle upfield was followed by an electric run which caused chaos in the Leganés box. The ball broke free, and that man again - Tucu Correa - was there to grab another Copa del Rey and make it 1-0. Sevilla had strengthened their grip on the game though Leganés remained just one back from extra-time. 

The early Correa goal settled things down but it wasn't enough give total security

Naturally, Leganés looked to respond immediately and always looked spirited and dangerous through their full-backs - especially through Tito up the right. On half an hour Gabriel tried his luck with a long-range effort that was well trapped by Rico, then Beauvue once again had a chance but this time fired over. Facing such an incisive Leganés, there would always be spaces to exploit and so Sevilla sat, looking to break. Muriel would be the man once again to find that break, slipping through the Leganés defense and finding Banega with just five minutes left in the first-half. The Argentine would have the goal gaping at his feet but would see the ball cleared off the line to keep the deficit at just one. And it wouldn't be the last time Leganés would clear off the line before half-time. This time a looping header from Escudero would be acrobatically cleared to keep Leganés still firmly in the tie. 

Come the restart, Leganés proved their cool in an explosive atmosphere, showing they wouldn't get carried away by the occasion and looked for set-pieces and isolated chances to find their way back. A solid Sergio Rico would be equal to any effort and Sevilla would start to win the battle of intensity and heart. With Banega, N'Zonzi and Vázquez running the show and finding their way to every second ball, the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán was assured, even if the match still hung in the balance. 1-0 was still not enough but it was Sevilla who looked more like scoring. 

It was an intense second-half but a rocking Sánchez-Pizjuán would carry us home to another historic result

Thankfully Leganés never created anything clear-cut, and every lost pass was an opportunity for Sevilla to counter. Sarabia would end one-such breakaway with a fierce shot that harkened back to his screamer against the same side in October. This time, Champagne was equal to the effort but Leganés put themselves in more and more danger by pushing men forward. Layún and Sandro would be introduced before Banega was replaced by Pizarro after picking up a knock. Montella's subs would prove decisive once again. This time, Sandro would set up Franco Vázquez for the goal that would send the Sánchez-Pizjuán into raptures. With one minute of regulation time left, the Everton loanee would find Vázquez with space on the break. 'El Mudo' would strive with every ounce of energy in his body to break free of the Leganés defence, and unleash a rocket left-footed shot to give Sevilla their ticket to the Final of the Copa del Rey. Delerium in Nervión. 

Leganés were out of time and Sevilla would fly to the final whistle. A second Copa del Rey final in three seasons. Tomorrow will determine if the Nervionenses face the same opponent in FC Barcelona - with a high-flying Valencia still in with a shout of reaching the Final, too. Whoever it is, Sevilla have a date with destiny on the 21st  of April - the Saturday of Seville's world famous 'Feria' festival. A special date to come, and once again, Sevilla are finalists in the Copa del Rey.