3-2: HEARTBREAKING LAST-MINUTE DEFEAT

A rollercoaster of a game ended in a crushing defeat as Álaves snatch a 90th-minute winner to win at the Sánchez Pizjuán for the first time since 1954, cancelling out our fightback from two goals down.

Under the Friday night lights, Quique Sánchez Flores’s men came out raring to go. The first chance came within seconds of kick-off, courtesy of debutant Isaac Romero as Óliver made blistering run on the right-hand side and crossed the ball into the box and met the forward’s head, sending it just wide. Things didn’t stop there; a minute later, our attackers again bombarded the Álaves box, with a clearance falling to Jesús Navas on the edge of the box and the captain unleashed a shot that grazed the far-left side of the crossbar.

Our new #20, who was promoted from the Sevilla Atlético team earlier this week, afforded us lots of opportunities, managing a string of headed chances. Creativity was also in great supply in wider areas, with chances coming from Lucas Ocampos and Suso, who displayed some beautiful footwork when dancing past defenders in an opening 10 minutes that saw us enjoy a spell of over 80% possession in the first 10 minutes and register five shots on goal.

We sustained pressure and dominated possession for most of the first half-hour, allowing little in the way of opportunities. However, in their first clear attempt of the match, Luis Rioja’s corner on 27 minutes was swung in towards the penalty spot where he found Nahuel Tengalia, whop tapped the ball in to put the visitors ahead.

The pace of the game slowed down after going behind. Opportunities were hard to come by as Álaves finally settled into the game. Salas then went down in the opposition box and was treated but bravely carried on. Unfortunately, as soon as play restarted, Carlos Vicente picked up the ball on the left-wing for Álaves and swung a ball into Kike Garcíá who unleashed a shot that deflected off the defender, who was then taken off as a precaution and replaced by Adrià Pedrosa in the 42^nd minute.

Upon returning to the pitch for the second half, Álaves held maintain a tight grip of the game, limiting us to very few chances. Sánchez Flores opted for a major shakeup just before the hour narj amid a triple substitution as Isaac, Soumaré and Rakitic made way for Rafa Mir, Mariano and Djibril Sow. As we adapted to the shift in formation, our opponents capitalised. Rioja went close upon finding himself one-on-one with Dmitrovic, but fired it just wide of the right-hand post. However, as they settled into the game, Mariano proved to be the most fruitful addition in way of chances, but was denied by a well-organised defence on two occasion within his first 10 minutes on the field.

In the 69th minute, Navas left the pitch and on came Juanlu, who immediately drove the ball forward and played in Suso, who whipped in a ball that this time grazed past Mariano and directly into the path of Rafa Mir, who headed in from close range. Now only one goal adrift, the home side was galvanised.

 The away side responded by making three defensively minded changes, taking off both goal scorers. As we continued to press, Mariano was caught in the box by a high challenge from Carlos Benavidez, and with 10 minutes left we were awarded a penalty by VAR. Ocampos stepped up and calmly slotted home the equaliser, setting the stage for a grandstand finish.

Mariano was once again at the centre of the action in the 85th minute when he headed Suso’s cross inches wide of the near post. We kept up the momentum, but the crushing blow came on the 90th minute when Álaves won a corner, which was played in the middle of the box and met the head Duarte, firing the ball, about which Dmitrovic could do little to stop, into the top left corner. A hugely disappointing end to a night with signs of promise as we look to put things right for Tuesday night's Copa del Rey tie at Getafe.

MATCH DETAILS

2. SEVILLA FC: Dmitrovic, Jesús Navas (Juanlu, 68'), Sergio Ramos, Marcao, Kike Salas (Pedrosa, 41'), Soumaré (Sow, 54'), Rakitic (Mariano, 54'), Óliver Torres, Suso, Ocampos and Isaac (Rafa Mir, 54').

3. DPTVO ALAVÉS: Sivera, Gorosabel, Rafa Marín, Tenaglia, Javi López, Guridi (Sola, 75'), Benavídez, Guevera (Blanco, 91'), Vicente (Parada, 91'), Rioja (Duarte, 75') and Kike (Samu, 71').

GOALS: 0-1 Tenaglia, 25'. 0-2 Kike García, 40'. 1-2 Rafa Mir, 69'. 2-2 Ocampos 81' (penalty). 2-3 Duarte, 90'.

MATCH OFFICIALS: Hernández Hernández. Yellow cards for Rafa Marín, Soumaré, Marcao, Jesús Navas, Mariano and Benavídez.