csconstantine.com

SEVILLE, Spain (AP)—Fredy Guarin’s late score gave FC Porto a 2-1 win at Sevilla to put the Portuguese club in control of their Europa League last-32 series on Thursday.

Guarin took advantage of a defensive slip-up to roll in the 85th-minute winner. Sevilla’s defense let Cristian Rodriguez race onto a through ball that goalkeeper Andres Palop could only tip wide onto the path of the Colombia midfielder.

Sevilla's Martin Caceres, …
AP - Feb 17, 3:42 pm EST

Rolando opened for Porto in the 58th as he stabbed James Rodriguez’s free kick past Palop in an ill-tempered match at Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

Sevilla equalized in the 65th when Frederic Kanoute got high to turn Ivan Rakitic’s free kick into the top corner out of the reach of goalie Helton with a well-guided header.

The return leg is at Porto next Wednesday.

Luis Fabiano threatened for Sevilla twice inside the first 20 minutes but the Brazil striker saw a chance cleared in the 18th after taking too long to line up his shot then Rolando blocked another try along the goal line.

Palop punched a cross onto the path of Rodriguez in the 24th but recovered to stop the volleyed shot from outside the area.

That was one of Porto’s few first-half chances while Sevilla settled for long-range chances to the 48th when Kanoute’s shot swerved wide.

An ugly spell of tough tackles and hard challenges boiled over in the 53rd with three yellow cards brandished. Sevilla was bothered by the incidents and the Portuguese club took advantage to score as the Andalucian side’s defense was slow to take up positions for Rodriguez’s free kick.

The goal spurred Sevilla’s attack as Kanoute had a headed chance deflected out just before the Mali striker scored his fifth of the competition.

Porto ‘keeper Helton was well-placed in the 67th to deny Luis Fabiano’s hard header from inside the box as the hosts pressed. Sevilla has scored nine of its 11 goals in the last half hour.

Palop was equally ready at the other end as the Spanish goalie tipped Hulk’s 74th-minute riser over the bar.

But Helton cut down the angle to stop substitute Alvaro Negredo’s strike in the 77th, and Kanoute somehow misguided Negredo’s headed on ball for Helton to gather with the empty goal beckoning.

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Labels: Guarin, Porto, Sevilla, winner