Two penalties edge Valencia past 10-man Sevilla

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Penalties from David Villa and Juan Mata helped Valencia win.

New Delhi: Penalties from David Villa and Juan Mata helped Valencia come from behind to defeat 10-man Sevilla at the Mestalla on Sunday evening.

Julien Escude had given the visitors the lead, before Adriano was rather harshly shown the red card for a foul on David Villa, which allowed Unai Emery’s side to go and clinch a 3- 1 victory.

First Half

After Atletico Madrid’s comfortable 3-0 win over Numancia on Saturday evening, the pressure was on Los Che to reclaim their 4th position back from their rivals, and once again Unai Emery looked to 23-goal David Villa for inspiration.

Sevilla meanwhile are almost assured of third spot, with their success this season built on a strong defensive unit and the goals of Freddie Kanoute. And it was the visitors who started the stronger, immediately throwing a spanner in the works and dominating the opening spell.

They deservedly took the lead after nine minutes, through a wonderful header by defender Julien Escude. Renato threw in an out-swinging corner and Escude leapt to power perfectly into Cesar’s top right-hand corner.

Diego Perotti and Kanoute also had chances as Valencia struggled to find any kind of foothold in the match, but then the match completely changed after a shocking piece of refereeing left Sevilla down to ten men.

Adriano went in late on David Villa, tripping him from behind, and as the Brazilian moved back into position the referee inexplicably produced the red card. It may have been a foul, it may even have been a booking, but the challenge did not merit a red card and the decision changed the outcome of the match.

Two minutes later, and another big decision had to be made, but this time the referee made the correct call. Julien Escude went from hero to villain, bringing down Juan Mata as he looked set to shoot, and David Villa confidently rolled the ball into the net to bring Los Che level and put them back on track for a crucial three points.

Second Half

They had 45 minutes to break down ten man Sevilla, and Villa, so often Valencia’s goal-scoring saviour this season, and he single-handedly strived to put his side in front.

Firstly, he spun fantastically in the area, and fired a shot that Andres Palop saved instinctively. He then burst through on the right hand side and as Palop narrowed the angle, Villa rolled the ball past him, but it rebounded agonisingly off the post and out to safety.

It appeared that it may not be Valencia’s day, but thanks to the stupidity of Fernando Navarro, they were given another penalty kick. The ball looped into the area and the former Real Mallorca defender threw up his hand and punched the ball to safety. It was a bizarre move, and all of Sevilla’s rigid defending had been outdone in one movement of his arm.

David Villa had limped off earlier and so the responsibility fell to Juan Mata – and he made no mistake, slamming home the kick to net his fourth goal in four matches.

Los Che had shown great determination to turn the match around, and in the dying seconds they sealed the win. Pablo Hernandez twisted in the box and drilled a low shot inside Palop’s near post to give the home side a victory that they were somewhat fortunate to achieve.

Unai Emery’s men moved back in to fourth place, and staked their claim for Champions League football next season ahead of Atletico Madrid and Villarreal.