Sevilla 2 : 1 Villarreal - Bacca penalty seals points

Posted Monday, October 27, 2014 by PA

Carlos Bacca's injury-time penalty crowned a late Sevilla comeback against Villarreal and sent them level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

The hosts looked on course for a defeat when substitute Luciano Vietto's neat finish put Villarreal ahead after 79 minutes.

But Denis Suarez pounced on a loose ball to slam home the equaliser two minutes from time and, after Giovani dos Santos tripped Benoit Tremoulinas just inside the corner of the area, Bacca stepped up to slot home the penalty.

The three points ensured Sevilla did take full advantage of Barcelona's loss to Real Madrid on Saturday to join them at the summit.

With both sides having been in Europa League action on Thursday, it was perhaps no surprise the match took a while to get going, with efforts from Kevin Gameiro for Sevilla and Giovani for Villarreal which were both comfortably saved the only action of note in the first half-an-hour.

The visitors had a golden chance to go in front a minute before the break, but Ikechukwu Uche's shot from six yards was parried away by Beto.

Giovani headed over from close range as the Yellow Submarine wasted another opening early in the second half, while at the other end Sergio Asenjo pushed away a Tremoulinas drive.

Villarreal made the breakthrough in the 79th minute as Cani's perfectly-weighted first-time pass put Vietto in down the left of the area and the substitute, on for 14 minutes, clipped his shot past the onrushing Beto and into the far corner.

Sevilla, though, are flying in the league this term and produced a hugely spirited fightback.

In the 88th minute the visiting defence failed to deal with a cross in from the right and, when the ball broke to Suarez 12 yards out, he fired a left-footed shot into the net.

And there was still time for a winner as Giovani was too slow in possession in his own area, allowing Tremoulinas to nick the ball and then go over the Mexican's outstretched leg.

Tremoulinas fell outside the area, but the contact was just inside it and Bacca took full advantage from the spot, placing his plenty low into the right corner to settle the match.