Copa Del Rey: Sevilla versus Real Madrid - First Half Report
Real Madrid kicked things off against Sevilla at the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011, as both teams locked horns in the Spanish Copa Del Rey matchup. Sevilla pushed forward with greater numbers in the beginning of the first
half http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Xabi-Alonso-c37045, the Real Madrid midfielder conceded possession due to Sevilla’s
ball pressing up the field.
However, the set piece was a poorly executed one as the whipped in ball floated over everyone in the Real Madrid penalty area, ending up out of play for a Real goal kick. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Iker-Casillas-c16815 took the free kick and released Cristiano
Ronaldo up the field. The Portuguese winger then showed class and strength to wriggle past two Sevilla defenders before he crossed the ball for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Karim-Benzema-c20350. It was a glorious opportunity to score for the Frenchman, but he missed the target with his finish,
as the score line remained stagnant. Real slowly and surely played their way back into the match through fantastic link up play between Mesut Ozil and Ronaldo. The former Spanish champions maintained processional superiority over their opponents throughout
much of the first half as far as the midfield area was concerned.
In the eighth minute of the match, Lassana Diarra was booked for a late challenge on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sergio-c33030 Sanchez near the touchline for Real Madrid. It was the first booking of the match for either of the two sides. Diarra’s booking galvanized
his teammates as the referee refused to consider the protests of Alonso and Ozil. Thus, Real soon struck first blood with Benzema in attack. The Frenchman gathered control of the ball inside the Sevilla penalty area after http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sami-Khedira-c32325 played him in. The ex-Lyon
striker showcased tremendous composure to slot the ball past Palop in the Sevilla goal with a left-footed finish. Now, the score line read 0-1 to the visitors in the 17th minute of the match.
Luis Fabiano also went into the referee’s book after he unlawfully encroached the mandatory 10-yard distance between the ball and the wall, as Real Madrid were getting ready to take their set piece in the 21st minute
of the match. Fabiano became the first Sevilla player to be booked in the match. In the 31st
minute, it was Koffi Ndri Romaric who played in Luis Fabiano through a wonderfully lofted ball, but the Brazilian front man failed to capitalize on the situation at hand as he headed the ball wide. It was a glorious opportunity for him to head his team.
In the 32nd minute, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Álvaro-Arbeloa-c5282 followed Diarra into the referee’s book for Real Madrid as he was penalized for a reckless challenge on Romaric. Just before the half time whistle sounded, Real Madrid and Sevilla were
at odds once again and this time it was due to a goal line controversy as Fabiano went past Casillas before slotting the ball home. Replays showed that the ball had not actually crossed the goal line as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Raul-c30652 Albiol, the Real Madrid centre back had intercepted
in time to clear his lines. However, the Sevilla players and the home crowd were furious as their protests with the referee continued even after he had signalled for the half time break. The score line rested at 0-1 to Jose Mourinho’s men.
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