Sevilla 3 : 2 Villarreal - Romaric edges Sevilla thriller

Posted Sunday, April 24, 2011 by PA

Sevilla clung on for a 3-2 victory to boost their push for European qualification in an enjoyable blood-and-thunder Primera Division encounter against Villarreal at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Ivan Rakitic and Alvaro Negredo gave the hosts an early 2-0 lead which was cut shortly after half-time by Carlos Marchena.

Substitutes Ndri Romaric and Giuseppe Rossi then traded goals before Marchena was sent off for an overdue second booking.

The first sight of goal brought the opener, as Mateo Musacchio's foul on Didier Zokora earned the defender a yellow card and handed Rakitic his chance from a free-kick. The Croatian stepped up to curl a magnificent effort from 25 yards into the top corner with pace and dip.

And it was 2-0 in the 14th minute as Negredo raced through a sluggish defence to latch onto Diego Perotti's through-ball and lift the ball neatly over keeper Diego Lopez.

Sevilla were denied a penalty when Negredo went down theatrically - although Musacchio appeared to make contact - while at the other end, Nilmar's curling shot was brilliantly tipped away by keeper Javi Varas.

Marco Ruben's weak shot, after a delightful move, was cleared by defender Fernando Navarro as the visitors failed to find a goal before half-time.

They pressed after the resumption, though, and wideman Mubarak Wakaso extended Javi Varas with a ferocious left-footed strike from range which the keeper flew to his left to tip behind.

It was a temporary reprieve, though, as Marchena stayed forward after the ensuing corner, controlled Jose Manuel Catala's pass and finished well to score his first league goal for Villarreal.

Santi Cazorla curled a free-kick just wide but Sevilla eased the pressure as Romaric scored with his first touch. Two minutes after replacing striker Rodri, the Ivorian ran onto Negredo's knockdown and finished through the legs of Diego Lopez.

Marchena somehow escaped a booking after a wild challenge on Zokora which sparked a brief flashpoint, Rakitic instead carded for his retaliation. Ruben was then replaced by Cicinho after a theatrical fall in the six-yard box was rewarded only by Javi Varas' studs raking across his head.

Rossi beautifully cut the deficit to one with a precise curling finish from outside the box, setting the scene for a thrilling finale.

Javi Varas saved well from Cazorla and Rossi zipped another excellent left-footed effort against the base of the post as the visitors pressed for an equaliser.

Marchena was booked along with Romaric after another flare-up, though the latter could consider himself unlucky as team-mates Perotti and Zokora appeared more involved.

And Marchena saw a second yellow card five minutes from time for another crude challenge on Perotti, before Negredo curled an audacious effort just wide as stoppage time began.

Diego Lopez was spared a red card after handling outside his area as referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco played advantage, with substitute Arouna Kone unable to capitalise.