Sevilla vs Celta Vigo. Spanish Copa del Rey Semi-Final.
Ramon Sanchez PizjuanAttendance36,659.
Thursday 4 February 2016 22:36, UK
Kevin Gameiro scored twice as Sevilla took firm control of their Copa del Rey semi-final against Celta Vigo with a 4-0 victory in the first leg at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.
Gameiro - who had earlier had a penalty saved with the game goalless - struck in the 59th and 62nd minutes, adding to Adil Rami's header in the last few seconds of the first half on Thursday night.
Michael Krohn-Dehli then extended the hosts' advantage further with three minutes to go.
The opening stages saw Sevilla, five-time winners of this competition, apply considerable pressure, with the likes of Timothee Kolodziejczak, Krohn-Dehli, Ever Banega and Steven Nzonzi making unsuccessful attempts on goal.
They were then awarded a spot-kick just before the half-hour mark following a Sergi Gomez foul on Vitolo, but the resulting effort from 12 yards by Gameiro was kept out by goalkeeper Ruben Blanco.
Celta responded by hitting the crossbar soon afterwards through a Gomez header, and there were subsequent misses from his team-mates Daniel Wass and Pablo Hernandez.
It was not long before Sevilla were on the front foot again, though, and Rami made it 1-0 by heading in Banega's corner in the 45th minute.
Gustavo Cabral brought a save out of Sergio Rico early in the second half, but after Banega was then denied by Blanco, Celta were left stunned as two Sevilla breaks in three minutes ended with composed Gameiro finishes, the first from Krohn-Dehli's tee-up and the second from Banega's.
Wass and Fabian Orellana had shots saved as the visitors strived to get on the scoreboard, only for Sevilla to then net again in the last few minutes as Krohn-Dehli slotted in.
The second leg takes place next Thursday, the night after Barcelona - who won their first-leg tie 7-0 - take on Valencia again.
