Sevilla Edges Past Rayo With Late Penalty Drama
Rayo Vallecano arrived at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán with blood up, and their early threat produced instant reward. Ángel García struck in the fourth minute to stun the hosts, handing the visitors a dream start and forcing Sevilla to chase the game from the opening moments.
Sevilla's response came through set-piece execution and the penalty spot. Joseba Guridi levelled from a spot kick in the 52nd minute, restoring parity after an even first half. The momentum swung decisively when Sevilla's Kevin Salas received a straight red card in the 88th minute, reducing the home side to ten men at the worst possible moment. Yet Sevilla held firm in the chaos, and their resilience paid off when Pablo Fernández converted another penalty deep in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 victory.
The closing stages turned into a fractious affair, with both sides collecting yellow cards as tempers flared. Rayo threw everything at their hosts through seven added minutes, but Sevilla's ten-man defence weathered the storm. García and two other Rayo players were cautioned, though their efforts proved insufficient to prevent defeat.
The win sends Sevilla into their league campaign with three points on the board, though the circumstances of their victory,relying on two penalties and surviving a red card,will demand refinement. Rayo, despite a spirited display and García's early breakthrough, left empty-handed and must regroup quickly for their next assignment.
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