After a two-year break, the UEFA Europa League returned to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, to Sevilla. And, among Europa League football results, Sevilla beat Zagreb 3-1 (first half) in this first-leg play-off football match on Thursday.
Another talking point of the night was Navas’ return who came on for Ocampos in the final minutes.
Europa League Football Results – Sevilla Beat Zagreb 3-1 (First Half)
Sevilla enjoyed the best possible start to attempt to secure their place in the last-16 draw next week.
On the other hand, the Croatian side also came out with the intention to attack Bono’s goal. In fact, it was Orsic who enjoyed the first chance of the game with eight minutes on the clock. But Bono tipped the ball around for it to become a corner instead.
Meanwhile, Sevilla’s first chance came as a decisive one, because it resulted in the opening goal of the night. Rakitić played a great pass into Martial, who played the ball into the box.
Livakovic actually managed to divert the ball, but only into the path of the onrushing Papu. And in this action, the keeper fouled Papu as he chipped it over him. Rakitić took the responsibility of this penalty opportunity and scored the opener for the hosts.
Sevilla then, after this goal, started to grow into the game and Munir came close with a shot troubling the keeper.
Nonetheless, the game started to slow down with less action in both areas. The only other chance came before the break which saw Ademi almost equalise but didn’t.
With only four minutes to play until the interval, Diego Carlos failed to clear a through-ball at the far post. So, Orsic was able to pounce onto the pass. The striker took the ball down and placed it down low past the scurrying Bono. And so, the visitors put the tie back on level terms just before the halftime break.
With the 1-1 tie seemingly fixed and ready for the break, the Sevilla team didn’t calm down. In fact, a minute later their hard work resulted in their being back in the lead.
Rakitić sent a cross into the box that would fall to Ocampos at the back post. The Argentine, now operating on the left wing, put everything behind his shot. The ball slid into the back of the net off a slight deflection that would divert Livakovic. We saw this slip give Sevilla a 2-1 lead.
Later in the closing stages of the first half, now in added time, Sevilla were on the counter attack again. At this point, the ball fell to Martial, who pulled away to the right hand side.
Eager to score a goal since his debut, the man from France didn’t fail here. Martial thus put Sevilla 3-1 up in an amazing finish to the first half.
