1-2: SEVILLA FC TAKE THREE POINTS AWAY FROM THE MENDIZORROZA IN AN EXHILARATING ENDING

19/01/2021

En-Nesyri and Suso put Sevilla ahead two times after Alavés had equalised, and Bono was the saviour in the dying minutes as he saved a penalty

A tough, hard-worked, and vital win for Sevilla FC this Tuesday night in Vitoria, beating Deportivo Alavés two goals to nil. En-Nesyri, with minutes gone in the game, put the team ahead from a Jesús Navas cross. The team's advantage would not last long however, with Édgar soon equalising. Two players would save the day for Sevilla: Suso who put the side back in the league with an incredible left-footed strike from thirty yards; and Bono, who in the last minutes of the game saved a penalty from Joselu when the game seemed to be destined for a 2-2 draw.

The first half at the Mendizorroza was full of action, surely a spectacle for the spectator but perhaps less so for the two managers on the touchline. In the fourth minute, Youssef En-Nesyri got on the end of a Jesús Navas cross from the right wing and, after a mis-hit first shot, was able to fire the rebound beyond Pacheco, putting the team in the lead. The Moroccan adds another goal to his tally this season, keeping his hot-streak in front of goal up. However, with Sevilla in control both on the pitch and of the scoreboard, a defensive mistake would allow Alavés back into the goal. Sergi Gómez, Koundé, and Bono all failed to clear a simple throw-in which Édgar Méndez sent over Bono with a looping header.

Suso drilled in an incredible strike from thirty yards out, leaving Pacheco with no chance

Lopetegui's team soon got over the disappointment of the equaliser and went on the hunt for a second. Sevilla controlled the ball but Alavés defended their area well with lots of players back and denying Sevilla space down the wings. Despite Alavés' good work, the goal would come on the half-hour mark, and what a goal it was. Suso, who cut in from the right wing, fired in an incredible shot from no less than thirty metres out which whistled past Pacheco into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper utterly no chance.

In the second half, Abelardo's team looked to get back into the game through set pieces, but Sevilla were more than a match for them. Julen Lopetegui had to substitute Ocampos on the hour-mark after Édgar Méndez had went in hard on his left foot in a 50-50 tackle. Abelardo also looked to make some offensive changes to try and get his team back into the game. Joselu, from a corner, had a header but it was no problem for Bono. In the following play, Suso got into Alavés' box but his cross found no one on the end of it.

Bono would once more be the hero in goal as he denied a penalty from Joselu in the dying minutes of the game

Coming into the last stretch of the game, Duarte scored an own-goal; however, VAR would rule it out after the ball was seen to have come off En-Nesyri's arm. And, after that, the night became Yassine Bono's. The referee adjudged Koundé to have handled in the box, pointing to the spot with only one minute of regulation time to go. Joselu took the ball and struck, but Sevilla's goalkeeper was there to deny the striker and secure a vital three points for Sevilla. The image of the night is surely the team rushing to Bono to celebrate yet another vital penalty stop from the Moroccan, after he did so a couple of weeks ago against Betis.

GAME SUMMARY

1. DEPORTIVO ALAVÉS: Pacheco, Laguardia, Lejeune, Navarro, Battaglia, Pina (Manu García, 86'), Duarte, Aguirregabiria (Borja Sáinz, 62'), Rioja (Peleteiro, 68'), Édgar Méndez (Deyverson, 68') and Joselu.

2. SEVILLA FC: Bono, Jesús Navas, Sergi Gómez, Koundé, Acuña, Fernando, Jordán (Gudelj, 77'), Rakitic, Suso (Óliver Torres, 91'), Ocampos (De Jong, 62') and En-Nesyri (Franco Vázquez, 91').

GOALS: 0-1 En-Nesyri, 4'. 1-1 Édgar Méndez, 12'. 1-2 Suso, 31'.

REFEREE: Díaz de Mera. Yellows for Lejeune, Édgar Méndez, Pere Pons, En-Nesyri, Bono and Jesús Navas.