4-2: TWO LATE GOALS SECURE ALL THREE POINTS AGAINST CELTA

21/11/2020

Koundé's early goal seemed to indicate a comfortable win, but, after Celta turned the match on its head, it was time for Sevilla to show their class. En-Nesyri equalised on the stroke of half time before Escudero and Munir rounded off the comeback late on

The team went out for the win. They went in front early. The match was turned on its head. They levelled it. They went for the win again, as they always do. And they won. A brief summary of Sevilla FC's win against RC Celta de Vigo on Saturday evening at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. The team had to dig deep for the three points after, at times, it appeared that Celta could come away from the match with something as Coudet took charge of the Galicians for the first time. Vaclík, who had a role in Aspas's equaliser, made many crucial saves in the second half which allowed his team to secure a win with late goals from Escudero and Munir.

The first half had absolutely everything. Sevilla FC went out whole-heartedly for the three points as soon as the match begun, having three chances to take the lead in the opening four minutes. After the last of those chances, where an Óliver effort resulted in a corner, the Nervionenses took the lead. Diego Carlos went close with a header that was pushed away by Rubén Blanco, but Koundé was alert and hammered home the rebound. Lopetegui's men did not stop there, with Ocampos going close after a lovely solo move, but the keeper denied the Argentine's powerful effort.

After a spectacular start, with Koundé's goal and a dominant Sevilla, Celta turned the match on its head

However, a match can change in an instant. Hugo Mallo crossed from the right wing without any apparent danger, but Vaclík's clearance came off his own bar and fell to Aspas, who easily converted to level the scores at the Sánchez-Pizjuán. From that moment, Sevilla FC looked nervy on the pitch, their dominance faded, and Celta grew into the game after their poor start. Then the second came. The Nervionenses pressed high up, but Aspas got the better of Fernando on the right-hand side. His close-range effort was denied by Vaclík, but the rebound fell perfectly for Nolito, who only had to tap the ball in, just as Aspas had done.

With Escudero coming on in the first half for Acuña, who had similar injury problems to the ones that forced him off the pitch against CA Osasuna two weeks ago, Sevilla FC again pushed high up and gave the Galicians no space, despite their dangerous attacks. Vaclík made a crucial save just before half time, diverting a Nolito effort out for a corner. However, just as added time was about to run out, Jesús Navas whipped the ball in from the right and En-Nesyri, beating two defenders in the air, sent a powerful header beyond Rubén Blanco, meaning the scores were level at the break.

Vaclík denied Celta a third goal, making two crucial saves from Aspas and Mina, allowing Escudero and Munir to secure all three points

The second half began with the Blanquirrojos looking to take the lead, as they kept possession and focused their attacks down the wings, with Escudero and Jesús Navas pushing very high up. Ocampos became a focal point as he cut inside from both wings. There were no early clear cut chances, and it was Celta who had the best chances to go in front. Firstly Aspas, who was one-on-one with Diego Carlos, and then Santi Mina had big chances, but the Czech goalkeeper brilliantly denied both of their efforts.

However, this Sevilla FC side never surrender, and it is very difficult to keep them down. Lopetegui made two late changes, bringing on Munir and Idrissi for his debut. With five minutes of normal time remaining, Escudero picked up a loose ball outside the box and hit it first time, finding the top corner thanks to a deflection from Tapia. There was sheer jubilation in Nervión, but even more so two minutes later, as Munir rounded off a quick counter-attack by firing beyond Rubén Blanco.

MATCH SUMMARY

4. SEVILLA FC: Vaclík, Jesús Navas, Koundé, Diego Carlos, Acuña (Escudero, 32'), Fernando, Jordán (Óscar, 80'), Rakitic, Ocampos (Idrissi, 80'), Óliver (Munir, 67') and En-Nesyri (De Jong, 67')

2. RC CELTA DE VIGO: Rubén Blanco, Hugo Mallo, Aidoo (Araujo, 41'), Murillo, Olaza, Tapia, Brais Méndez, Nolito (Okay, 67'), Denis Suárez, Aspas and Mina

GOALS: 1-0 Koundé, 5'. 1-1 Aspas, 10'. 1-2 Nolito, 35'. 2-2 En-Nesyri, 45'. 3-2 Escudero, 85'. 4-2 Munir, 87'.

REFEREE: Soto Grado, from La Rioja. Bookings for Jesús Navas, Denis Suárez, Hugo Mallo and Escudero.