Match reports

2-1: STOPPAGE-TIME CHAOS SEES SEVILLA COME AWAY EMPTY-HANDED

02/03/2019

Two disallowed goals, ten minutes of stoppage time and a 98th minute winner sees Sevilla fall to defeat at Huesca

Sevilla FC fell to defeat in Huesca in a match that dissolved into chaos in its last half hour after an early goal from Huesca meant the Nervionenses were playing catch-up right from the off. Deliveries on the right side from Jesús Navas failed to find finishes and VAR both gave and took away, with one penalty awarded in Sevilla's favour and two Sevilla goals disallowed. Ultimately, VAR would put the final nail in the coffin, confirming Huesca's winner in the 98th minute.

It only took six minutes for SD Huesca scupper Sevilla's plans to keep a clean sheet on the coast of El Alcoraz. An innocent-looking arrival on the left wing by Javi Galán was followed up by a filtered ball to the 6-yard box for Juanpi. The Huesca veteran would receive the ball between Mercado and Kjaer and without a challenge from either and turned to beat Vaclík before the Sevilla keeper could get out to make a block. Huesca, having succeeded in finding a break so early, let the Blanquirrojos have the ball. Machín's men, who hadn't scored away from the Sánchez-Pizjuán since December 23rd in Leganés, failed to find a way through. Miramón - rather than Huesca's keeper - would frustrate the visitors twice, clearing both Promes' and Ben Yedder's efforts off the line in quick succession.

Huesca took the lead early after Juanpi found space in the 6-yard box

The hosts came back out of their defensive zone after Sevilla's dangerous chance and started to probe Vaclík's goal once again. The Czech keeper was familiarly reliable, and kept the deficit at just 1-0 when denying Dieguez from a corner with a magnificent point-blank save. The Nervionenses, who tried to use Banega to control the game, found themselves pressed by the Azulgranas and only found joy on the right through Jesús Navas - whose relentless energy resulted in a number of dangerous crosses that couldn't find a lethal target. Minutes before the break, Juanpi had a chance to bag his brace but would eventually fire high after finding space once again in the Sevilla area.

The second-half was more typical of a Machin side. Possession and territorial dominance made good viewing but for all the improvement, Sevilla were unable to make clear-cut chances. Jesus Navas continued to be the danger-man and Sevilla would focus many of their attacks down his right-hand side. Huesca, for their part, would drop deep to soak up pressure. The joy of a breakthrough would last but a few seconds after Wissam Ben Yedder had bundled home what appeared to be an equaliser. VAR would ultimately rule out the goal for an earlier offside, leaving the Nervionenses to go in search of a goal once again.

VAR would take centre-stage in the last half-an-hour: disallowing two goals, prompting another and confirming the winner

The game would maintain the same pattern as minutes ticked away in the second-half. Pablo Machín, looking to the bench for inspiration, would use all of is subs early-on. His men would keep pressing - with Huesca creating very little in reply - but still no joy. With under 15 minutes to go, Sevilla would finally find their break after a challenge on Mercado in the Huesca penalty area gave them a penalty. Ben Yedder would dispatch the spot-kick after a five minute delay, as VAR confirmed the decision. With Sevilla on the front-foot, there appeared to be a clear favourite. When Munir found the back of the net in the second of ten minutes of injury time, it looked like the Nervionenses would be coming away with a win. However, Munir's first goal for the club would be denied by VAR, which confirmed the striker was ahead of the Huesca goalkeeper when the ball was played (despite a Huesca defender being even further behind Munir).

With literally seconds to play and with Sevilla pressing high up the pitch to find a second goal, Huesca would take advantage and counter to find a heart-sinking winner in the 98th minute. A strong right-footed strike from Ávila would put an end to a chaotic game and would rob the visitors of any points. Another painful away defeat for Sevilla, who now rely on other results to confirm a spot in the European places for this matchweek.

MATCH SUMMARY

2. SD HUESCA: Santamaría, Galán, Pulido, Etxeita, Diéguez, Miramón (Ávila, 37), Ferreiro, Herrera (Musto, 83), Moi Gómez, Juanpi (Gallar, 69) and Enric Gallego.

1. SEVILLA FC: Vaclík, Mercado, Kjaer (Wöber, 61), Sergi Gómez, Jesús Navas, Promes (Munir, 61), Rog (Franco Vázquez, 73), Banega, Sarabia, Ben Yedder and André Silva.

GOALS: 1-0 Juanpi, 7. 1-1 Ben Yedder, 83. 2-1 Ávila, 98.