Match reports

1-0: THE TEAM LOSE IN ZAGREB BUT REACH THE LAST 16 OF THE UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

24/02/2022

Diego Carlos picked up an injury at the end of the first half

Sevilla had to suffer this evening in Zagreb, but the team got the job done. After a hard-fought game against GNK Dinamo Zagreb, the team progressed on aggregate after falling to a 1-0 defeat in the Croatian capital. Orsic scored the only goal of the game from the spot, after Acuña was penalised for an unfortunate handball. Thomas Delaney was dismissed in stoppage time, but the team held on and sealed their place in the next round. Alongside all that, Diego Carlos had to be substituted at the interval after picking up an injury in the last minute of the first half. In the end, Sevilla FC did enough to be in the hat for the Round of 16 draw, which will take place in Nyon at 12:00 tomorrow.

In the first half, despite the fact that the Croatian side had a spell of dominance, Sevilla did not concede any particularly dangerous chances against the hosts, who pressed high up the pitch, particularly high up in some instances. However, the worst moment of the half came in the last minute, as Diego Carlos went down and signalled that he needed to be substituted, after feeling muscular pain. Once again, another injury to a centre-half, which saw Thomas Delaney take his place. Beforehand, Tolic's solo move and Misic's blocked effort were all that Dinamo could create as they looked to pull a goal back.

The penalty for Dinamo came during Sevilla's best spell of dominance

However, the second half was a different story as Sevilla came out fighting and created far more chances than they had managed in the first 45. Two came within the first five minutes. Koundé had a headed effort from a Papu cross, while Delaney could only strike the ball against the keeper from a corner. Sutalo was then forced into clearing for a corner, when good interplay between Acuña and Tecatito on the left nearly found Rafa Mir. During that spell of dominance, the turning point came. GNK Dinamo were unexpectedly back in the tie.

A rare foray forward for the hosts, which ended with Bono clearing for a corner, saw a penalty awarded by the French official, after the ball deflected onto Acuña's hand when tussling for possession with Orsic. The striker then stepped up and placed the ball powerfully beyond Bono, who nearly got a hand on it. The Croats now needed just one goal to force extra time. Sevilla then had to dig deep, and contained Dinamo's attempts as best they could. A succession of corners followed for them, as they began to believe more than ever in their chances. Ocampos then had a golden chance to level the scores on the night, but he headed wide from Delaney's ball into the area.

Sevilla FC suffered in the final few minutes, and were even reduced to ten men

The Croatian side continued to push, with Orsic going closest with a dangerous effort from distance. Sevilla had to suffer even more in injury time, when Delaney was dismissed for a second yellow. However, they held on and progressed to the last 16 with a 3-2 win on aggregate. Julen Lopetegui's side will be in the hat for tomorrow's Round of 16 draw, which will take place at midday. In any case, the home leg will be the first leg.

MATCH SUMMARY

1. GNK DINAMO: Livakovic, T-Catherine, Sutalo, Franjic, Misic, Tolic (Bulat, 52'), Gojak (Menalo, 74'), Ristovski (Spikic, 61'), Stefulj (Bockaj, 61'), Petkovic (Emreli, 61') and Orsic.

0. SEVILLA FC: Bono, Montiel (Jesús Navas, 46'), Koundé, Diego Carlos (Delaney, 46'), Acuña, Fernando, Rakitic (Jordán, 71'), Papu Gómez, Tecatito (Ó. Torres, 71'), Ocampos and Rafa Mir (En-Nesyri, 80').

GOALS: 1-0 Orsic (penalty), 65'.

REFEREE: François Letexier. Bookings for Acuña, Delaney (dismissed for two bookable offences), and Bono.