Sevilla recorded their first win in the UEFA Champions League with a crushing 4-2 victory over Slavia Prague.
Spaniards ease to emphatic triumph
Sevilla recorded their first win in the UEFA Champions League with a crushing 4-2 victory over Slavia Prague.
The Spanish side had been humbled by Arsenal in their first outing at Europe's top table, but they more than showed their capabilities on Tuesday night.
Goals from Fredi Kanoute, Luis Fabiano, Julien Escude and Arouna Kone secured the win for last season's Uefa Cup winners.
Slavia responded through Daniel Pudil and David Kalivoda, but the Czech outfit were never truly in the contest against an impressive Sevilla side.
Playing conditions in the first-half were damp at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez as the rain in Spain proved to be torrential, however the football was anything but.
Intent
Sevilla showed their intent from the start with Fabiano latching on to a through ball and prodding a shot narrowly wide when he should have done better.
However, Sevilla soon had their deserved lead when the inspirational Kanoute broke down the right on nine minutes and skipped past Martin Vaniak, who had come rushing out of the Slavia goal, and the former Tottenham striker chipped in from an acute angle.
Slavia, though, were back in the game ten minutes later when Matej Krajcik teed up Daniel Pudil who promptly smashed home a spectacular 20-yard equaliser.
The game then continued in an open style with Fabiano missing a glorious opportunity to put his side back in front as he headed over when well placed.
The Brazilian forward soon had his goal when Kanoute produced a superb back-heeled flick around Marek Suchy to send Fabiano through to put Sevilla back in front.
Dominant
Slavia started the second 45 minutes brightly with Tjani Belaid curling narrowly wide from range, but it was Sevilla who were to net the fourth goal of the game.
On 58 minutes Seydou Keita headed on a Daniel Alves corner to allow Julien Escude to slot home from six yards.
Sevilla then dominated and eleven minutes later Arouna Kone, who had only just entered from the bench, showed composure to add a fourth for his side having been set up by Kanoute.
At times it looked as though there was a danger of the game becoming a rout, but Sevilla were not to find a fifth.
Slavia earned a late consolation two minutes into injury time when David Kalivoda fired in, but it was far too little far too late.
| Sevilla |
Team Statistics |
Slavia Prague |
|
| 4 |
Goals |
2 |
|
| 2 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
|
| 8 |
Shots on Target |
3 |
|
| 6 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
|
| 1 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
|
| 4 |
Corners |
6 |
|
| 9 |
Fouls |
11 |
|
| 3 |
Offsides |
3 |
|
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
|
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
|
| 77.6 |
Passing Success |
73.3 |
|
| 22 |
Tackles |
31 |
|
| 77.3 |
Tackles Success |
71 |
|
| 54.7 |
Possession |
45.3 |
|
| 53.2 |
Territorial Advantage |
46.8 |
|
|
