Sevilla attack qualification vs. Mallorca

Sevilla

Third-placed Sevilla put themselves on the brink of Champions League qualification with a comfortable win over Real Mallorca at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.


The islanders took the lead in the 16th minute but from then on it was all Sevilla.


Freddie Kanoute leveled after 33 minutes with a coolly-taken penalty and Luis Fabiano finally put the hosts ahead on the hour mark.


Jesus Navas (76) made the points safe with a left-foot drive.


The early exchanges were relatively sedate with both sides restricted to long-range efforts.


But Mallorca took the lead when Jose Manuel Jurado crossed from the left and Sevilla defender Julien Escude dived in at the near post but failed to clear, allowing Aduriz to turn well and fire home.


Escude almost made immediate amends for his error as he headed against the post in the first of three great chances for Sevilla in the space of a minute.


The ball came back in the box and Luis Fabiano's stabbed effort was saved by the feet of Miguel Moya, who was then forced to block Freddie Kanoute's shot.


Luis Fabiano then came desperately close to equalizing after 26 minutes.


A cross from the right was brought down by Ayoze and the Brazilian swiveled but his effort from inside the box struck the left-hand post.


However, the 28-year-old made a decisive contribution a few minutes later as he outmuscled Ivan Ramis down the right, before being tugged back by the defender on the byline to earn his side a penalty.


Kanoute converted with a cheeky, stuttering spot-kick for his 18th Primera Liga goal of the season.


With half-time approaching, Fernando Varela tried his luck with a speculative effort from 40 yards, which Andres Palop had to turn over the bar, ensuring the sides went in level at the break.


Luis Fabiano got the goal his performance deserved on the hour mark.


The Brazil striker powered into the box, leaving three Mallorca defenders for dead, then placed a left-footed strike low past Moya at the near post.


And he almost had a second when Sebastien Squillaci's cushioned header found him in the box but he could not keep his effort down.


After that Sevilla looked like the more likely scorers, Navas firing wide and Moya blocking a Luis Fabiano effort.


And the third goal deservedly came after 76 minutes, Navas cutting into the box from the right and powering a left-foot shot across Moya.


Kanoute came close to adding his second of the night four minutes from time but he lifted his angled shot over the bar.


At the other end, Mallorca were awarded a free-kick 20 yards out but Juan Arango fired straight into the wall before sending the rebound high over the bar.