Sevilla make Mönchengladbach pay the penalty
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
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Sevilla 3-0 Mönchengladbach
Goalless at half-time, the Spanish side converted two of their three second-half spot kicks before Yevhen Konoplyanka's first for the club.
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- Sevilla claim opening-day win against the group stage debutants
- The hosts are awarded three second-half penalties, converting two
- Kevin Gameiro nets one, misses one then earns one scored by Éver Banega
- Yevhen Konoplyanka wraps up win with first goal for the club
- Next games: Juventus v Sevilla, Mönchengladbach v Manchester City (30 September)
Sevilla won three second-half penalties, converting two, as Unai Emery's team broke the resistance of a spirited Borussia Mönchengladbach side to earn the Group D spoils.
Following a goalless first half, Vitolo earned two spot kicks in four minutes. Kevin Gameiro converted the first but slammed the second off the crossbar. The French forward made amends midway through the second period, however, as he gained the hosts yet another penalty – and Éver Banega did the rest. Yevhen Konoplyanka's late goal sealed it.
Sevilla, playing their first UEFA Champions League game since 2009/10 and against group stage debutants, roared out of the blocks. Vitolo struck the post inside five minutes, but it was captain José Antonio Reyes who was leading the charge, buzzing around like a persistent fly.
Twice Gameiro was unable to make the most of openings and as long as it was 0-0, Mönchengladbach carried a threat, Roel Brouwers and Tony Jantschke going close with headers. The German team's hope dimmed soon after the restart, however, as Vitolo drew fouls from Yann Sommer and then Brouwers.
If Gameiro could not fully capitalise, Banega kept his cool to slot in the second goal and substitute Konoplyanka added late gloss with his first touch, catching out Sommer at his near post.
Man of the match: Kevin Gameiro
A constant blur of movement and enterprise, Gameiro was a thorn in the side of the visiting defence. Prior to his second-half replacement by Ciro Immobile, he had chances in the first period, then scored a penalty, missed another and won the spot kick that Banega drove home.
Reyes a driving force
Captaining his boyhood club in the UEFA Champions League for the first time, Reyes was everywhere. He moved between the lines, created, dribbled and sought a route to goal whenever the possibility arose. A joy to watch at his best.
Naivety proves costly
With Lucien Favre's men shorn of confidence after losing their opening four Bundesliga games and in the uncharted waters of a first UEFA Champions League campaign, rash defending and goalkeeping cost Gladbach dear. Three penalties conceded says it all.