Match reports

0-1: KICKING OFF 2022 WITH A WIN IN CÁDIZ

03/01/2022

Ocampos scored the only goal of the game in the second half to secure all three points, despite numerous chances afterwards

Sevilla FC picked up a very important win tonight at the Nuevo Mirandilla in Cádiz, despite the fact that the squad was ravaged by both injuries and COVID cases. That was also the case for Cádiz CF, who had a significant numbers of absences too, who fought hard to take something out of the match. Ocampos scored the only goal of the match early on in the second half, but the visitors were somehow unable to extend their lead, with a flurry of chances after they had taken the lead. Lopetegui's side had to dig deep late on to maintain their lead, but Bono was not really troubled. Sevilla FC are now on 41 points and remain second in the table, but, crucially, they have extended their lead over the chasing pack.

Practically the only clear-cut chance in the first half came inside two minutes. Sevilla won the ball high up the pitch on the right-hand side thanks to Ocampos. His low cross fell to Jordán, after Papu had left the ball for him, but the midfielder could only find the side-netting. The hosts sat deep in their half and rarely ventured forward, barely threatening Bono, but they kept Sevilla at a distance and prevented them from causing any problems for Ledesma. Lopetegui then moved to a 4-3-3, to allow Acuña and Augustinsson to press forward.

Ocampos nearly added a second immediately after his goal, but Akapo deflected it wide

After the interval, Sevilla pressed even higher up and camped in Cádiz's half, as they looked for an opener at the Nuevo Mirandilla. However, there was bad news after a few minutes, when Fernando was forced off with a knock. Barely five minutes later, the frowns turned to smiles as Ocampos opened the scoring. After Cádiz managed to clear a corner, the ball came back into the box, and the Argentine took full advantage of a pass from Rakitic to beat Ledesma at the near post. Sevilla had finally broken Cádiz down, who had practically defended with all eleven men behind the ball.

The visitors had a gilt-edged chance to double their lead and practically kill the match off just minutes later, and that chance again fell to Ocampos, but Akapo managed to deflect his low shot just beyond the far post. From the resulting corner, Acuña's cross took a wicked deflection off a defender, which saw Ledesma forced into scrambling across to his near post to keep the ball out. Cádiz began to move forward after they fell behind, and Pacha Espino was the first to give Bono some work to do with a powerful shot from outside the area, but the Moroccan was equal to the task.

Sevilla FC had numerous chances to score a second, but Jordán, Rakitic, Munir and Óscar could not beat Ledesma

A wave of chances for Sevilla came in the last ten minutes, but they just could not add a second. Jordán had an effort which was wide of the mark, before Ledesma kept out a shot from Rakitic. Andone then had Cádiz's best chance of the match, heading just wide of the post. The only remaining chances fell to the visitors, with Munir failing to hit the target when presented with an open goal, while Óscar's chance was too close to Ledesma. Despite the feelings of uncertainty due to failing to score a second goal, Sevilla held on for a crucial win in Cádiz, and they finish a stunning first half of the season with 41 points.

MATCH SUMMARY

0. CÁDIZ CF: Ledesma, Akapo, Haroyan, Chust (Iza, 61'), Espino, Alarcón, Calderón (Álex Fernández, 54'), Jonsson (Iván Alejo, 61'), Chapela (Sobrino, 76'), Negredo and Osmajic (Andone, 54').

1. SEVILLA FC: Bono, Acuña, Gudelj, Diego Carlos, Augustinsson (Óscar Rodríguez, 85'), Fernando (Rekik, 54'), Jordán, Rakitic, Ocampos, Papu Gómez (Ó. Torres, 85') and Iván (Munir, 70').

GOALS: 0-1 Ocampos, 58'.

REFEREE: Alberola Rojas. Yellow card for Augustinsson.