En-Nesyri celebrates one of his goals vs FC Krasnodar

3-2: HEART AND TALENT DRIVE A HEROIC COMEBACK

04/11/2020

Sevilla FC were 2-0 down by the 20th minute and on halftime they had Jesús Navas sent off. An En-Nesyri double, after a Rakitić striker, completed the epic comeback

A man down for 45 minutes. Two goals down. But Sevilla FC never surrender. The team continued with their football and deservedly had their rewards, securing the three points against FC Krasnodar after the Russians went 2-0 up after 20 minutes. Rakitić would halve the deficit before Jesús Navas was sent off for bringing down Olsson when he was the last man. A double strike from En-Nesyri on 68 and 71 minutes turned the scoreboard around and secured the three points for Sevilla. The Nervionenses have become the first team to win a Champions League match after being down at the break and playing the entire second half a man down.

The first half at the Sánchez-Pizjuán was very strange, ending in the worst way possible with a straight red for Jesús Navas after a foul as the last man, adding insult to injury with the scoreboard already against the team. The team were losing 2-1 after two quick goals from Krasnodar, an excellent free-kick from Suleymanov and Berg scoring from the penalty spot minutes after. Despite the score, Sevilla had a very strong start to the game, with Ocampos and Jordán having two good opportunities to open the scoring, but it all was for nothing after the fouls leading to the free-kick and penalty.

Rakitić's header halved the deficit after Suleymanov and Berg put the Russians ahead, but Navas would be sent off just before half time

Lopetegui introduced changes following Berg's penalty, bringing on Acuña and Óscar. The away side dropped deeper and Sevilla looked to control possession to regain composure ahead of the big fight needed for the comeback. The first goal would come down the right wing, with Rakitić heading in Jordán's cross, giving Sevilla new-found life. However, just before the referee blew for half time, a ricochet in midfield sent Olsson through on goal against Vaclík. Navas took him down and was immediately sent off for a professional foul.

The Nervionenses looked to establish themselves deeper in Krasnodar's half after the break. Lopetegui made some tactical changes, giving Ocampos a free role down the right wing. Óscar and De Jong got the first shots of the half, a sign of things to come. Vaclík also had to make a good save to deny Olsson. The clearest chance came in the 58th minute, after Ocampos won a fifty-fifty, dribbled into the area and cut it back to Munir around the penalty spot, but the Moroccan's shot was blocked by a Russian defender. A few minutes later, Rakitić would strike the crossbar from inside the box.

En-Neysri's brace was a reward for the fight Sevilla put in throughout the match to turn the game around

But the goal did come. Two of them. The face of the game was changed by Sevilla's hard work. The team kept on pressing the Russian side, and would be rewarded for it after En-Nesyri won the ball off Kaio and beat Safonov in a one-on-one. But the team didn't stop there. They knew they had the momentum against a team with an extra player. Rakitić, who was a leader in the comeback, sent the ball into the box on the 70th minute from a free kick, with the ball avoiding everyone and hitting the post. En-Nesyri was the first to react, and pounced on the rebound to complete the comeback and secure the three points for the team.

Krasnodar fought to equalise the match and found Sevilla somewhat fatigued after their heroic effort to turn the score around. Diego Carlos made a key talent to deny the Russians the chance to make it 3-3, and the referee blew his whistle to confirm an excellent result for Sevilla, putting them level with Chelsea FC on seven points, opening up a six point gap between them and Stade Rennais and Krasnodar. Sevilla must travel to Russia after the international break, but before that the team must improve in La Liga against CA Osasuna and RC Celta Vigo.

GAME SUMMARY

3. SEVILLA FC: Vaclík, Jesús Navas, Koundé (Óscar, 34'), Diego Carlos, Escudero (Acuña, 34'), Gudelj, Jordán (Fernando, 60'), Rakitic, Ocampos, Munir (En-Nesyri, 60') and De Jong (Rekik, 82').

2. FC KRASNODAR: Safonov, Ramírez (Sorokin, 46'), Martynovich, Kaio, Chernov, Gazinskiy, Olsson, Utkin (Wanderson, 75'), Suleymanov, Sabua (Spertsyan, 34' - Claesson, 64' ) and Berg.

GOALS: 1-0 Suleymanov, 17'. 2-0 Berg, 20' (penalty). 1-2 Rakitic, 42'. 2-2 En-Nesyri, 68'. 3-2 En-Nesyri, 71'.

REFEREE: Felix Brych, German. Yellow for Koundé, Óscar, Spertsyan, Kaio and Berg. Straight red for Jesús Navas.