Sporting Gijon 0-1 Sevilla: Kanoute Goal Seals Win For Rojiblancos

Sporting Gijon 0-1 Sevilla

La Liga Fixtures & Results

The home side flew out of the traps as Sevilla struggled in the early few minutes. Efforts from Michel and Gregory in the first four minutes almost gave the home team a perfect start as they looked to press on for the European places in La Liga.

However, Sevilla got over those early nerves very quickly. Jesus Navas played a quick one-two with Freddy Kanoute before the striker stormed into the box and guided the cross into the roof of the net. It was a goal that seemed to calm Sevilla down after a rocky first ten minutes.

Sevilla should have gone 2-0 up on a quarter of an hour when it was Navas who found himself as the danger man. Gregory had forgotten about his early attacking intentions and got back to make a superb defensive clearance off the line as the ball was rolling in.

The away side pressed on and Romaric missed another brilliant chance in the 24th minute. Diego Perotti whipped the ball into the box after a clever short corner and the midfield man flicked his header inches wide as Gijon players looked on. 

The home side needed a response and they were given a glimmer of light when Sevilla's best defender, Adriano Correia, was taken off through injury before the half hour mark. Jose Angel then smashed a free kick on target, which was flying into the corner of the goal but for the hand of Sevilla goalkeeper, Andres Palop.

It was back to normal just minutes later when Sevilla heads were in hands once again. Jesus Navas curled a beautiful effort beyond the far post, the ball floated in slow motion and the chances of a second Sevilla goal were on the increase.

The Gijon crowd roared on and were demanding better. Michel again found himself in space as the break approached but fired a shot wide. Manolo Preciado was shouting from the touchline with the passion that seemed to be missing from his team. Pedro then launched a hopeless free kick over the top of everyone and out of play to sum up the home side's performance in the first 45 minutes.

The start of the second half carried on in much the same fashion as the first. An intelligent free kick just after the break by Jesus Navas nearly slipped Kanoute in behind the defence and the rest of the players who were lined up on the edge of the box. Unfortunately the ball had too much power and trickled out of bounds.

Arouna Kone missed one of the best chances of the game when he stretched for a Navas cross, which agonisingly missed the striker's foot by the smallest of margins. Sporting's reluctance to generate a response did wonders for the comfort of Sevilla who were looking the more likely side to score.

The Sevilla chances just kept on coming and it was Alvaro Negrado who missed the next just before the 70 minute mark. A brilliant ball into space by Navarro allowed the striker to run in behind but he dinked his shot a yard wide of Juan Pablo's goal when it seemed easier to score.

Gijon lacked ideas and flair. Sevilla were one step ahead in all departments and a potentially brilliant chance for Michel was foiled by Romaric as he read a long ball well and controlled with top control. Had he missed then Michel would have done very well to miss and the pressure would have piled on the away side in the closing stages of the game.

The Asturians threw on some tactical substitutions to try and inject some fresh energy as a number of Sevilla players were starting to look a little tired. It seemed to be working and David Barral could have scored with an elaborate scissor kick in the 81st minute after a scrappy cross from the left wing.

However, the relentless pressing as the match closed out all came to nothing as Sevilla scrapped and defended well to make sure that they moved third in the table and ahead of Valencia. Sporting showed too little fight for too much of the game.

Goal.com