Injury ttime drama as Barca defeat Sevilla

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-9-15 9:10:06

FC Barcelona went through the range of emotions on Saturday in a match where they looked to have been on track for a comfortable win against Sevilla before seeing their rivals pull level in the last minute of normal time and then taking all three minutes at the very end of injury time.

Dani Alves and Leo Messi had put Barca 2-0 up by the 75th minute and the result looked secure but some poor defending allowed Igor Rakitic to get Sevilla back into the game with 10 minutes remaining. Full back Coke then stunned the Camp Nou when he steered home a corner in the last minute of the game to make it 2-2.

Sevilla could have won in injury time as Marko Marin was inches away from a through ball, but with injury time running out Messi' s determination set up Alexis Sanchez who fired home from close range to give Barca three points that should not camouflage some of their failings.

Barca coach, Tato Martino put his faith in Neymar, Leo Messi and Cristian Tello and Neymar was the star of the first half with a display of pace and attacking menace which didn' t allow the Sevilla defense a moment of rest.

He was in action in the second minute forcing an early save from Beto, who also had to block a rebound from Tello.

After Xavi Hernandez saw Beto, who was destined to be Sevilla' s best player of the game, parry a free kick, Neymar was again denied by the Sevilla keeper on eight minutes.

The Brazilian's pace was vital and another run set up Tello who had two bites at the cherry, only for Beto to respond on both occasions.

It looked as if the goal was not going to come before the break, but a typical patient passing move ended with Barca pulling the Sevilla defense out of shape for Dani Alves to steal in at the far post to head Barca ahead from an Adriano cross.

Messi had played almost a backseat role to Neymar in the first period, but almost got on the scoresheet before the break after Tello did well to set him up. Beto did better to stand tall ad deny him.

If Barca could have scored more goals in the first half, the second was a more chaotic affair as Sevilla looked to play on the break and Javier Mascherano was called on to make a series of last ditch challenges. The visitors thought they had levelled on 63 minutes when Juan Cala headed home from a corner only for referee, Muniz Fernandez to rule thee goal out for a possible push on Alves.

The Neymar show continued with 15 minutes remaining as he teed up Messi for Barca's second of the game. That should have secured the points, but the last 10 minutes provided enough drama to turn the game on its head...and then back again.

Posted in: Miscellany

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