Sevilla beats Las Palmas in Laliga and avoids the risk of relegation
A goal from the striker ensures Caparrós’ team’s survival
Soccer is the best. Just ask Pascual. Last year, the kid was studying and playing soccer in that West Virginia that John Denver sang about in “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” and now he’s the season’s big hero at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. His header seals the salvation of a Sevilla team that, for a moment, we all imagined fighting until the last second to avoid relegation to the Second Division.
Caparrós’s team, who was shown on TV before the first minute and was already consumed by nerves, came out onto the pitch with the intention of setting a trap for Las Palmas. They were strong in every encounter, with fouls and pressure, trying to intimidate their opponents. Even Caparrós confronted Herzog on the touchline before the 10th minute.
But UD wasn’t a team with its season wrapped up. They responded to the tension with their football and created chances to unnerve Nervión. Januzaj had the best chance with a shot from the edge of the area after running halfway around the field with the ball under control. But when Sevilla realized they weren’t going to scare Las Palmas without the ball, they decided to try it with the ball. A good decision, really.
Suso at the controls
Carmona had a clear chance in the 23rd minute, but Viti got his foot in at the last second to prevent the goal. And shortly after the half-hour, Horkas appeared to save Lokonga’s shot with a firm hand after a great combination between Suso and Juanlu, Sevilla’s best players on the night.
Kike Salas was injured just before halftime, and Caparrós once again demonstrated his loyalty to the youth team by bringing on Ramón Martínez instead of Gudelj. And that trust would be rewarded shortly after the second half began. Suso sent in a free kick into the box, Agoumé headed the ball in, and Álvaro García-Pascual, at 191 centimeters tall and with his Yankee background, placed it just inside the far post, out of Horkas’ reach, to the delight of the crowd.
The goal left Diego Martínez’s men reeling, but as the minutes ticked by and Sevilla couldn’t find their way onto the ball, they went up top. And then the mess ensued. A low ball was loosely cleared by Nyland, who collided with Marc Cardona as he jumped. McBurnie scored, but Martínez Munuera ruled it out. And what more could we want? What remained, between Sevilla eager to waste time and UD with more blood on their knuckles than their heads, could only end in a brawl. Not even Las Palmas took advantage of more than ten minutes of stoppage time. Sevilla celebrates and huffs and puffs, UD cries and awaits the verdict.
