Sevilla qualifies for Europa League thanks to the goals in the second half

Sevilla kept their slim hopes of qualifying for the Knockout stages of the Champions League, after a win over Copenhagen (3-0) on Tuesday in the fifth round of Group G.

Goals scored by Morocco’s Youssef En-Nesyri (61), Isco (88) and Argentina’s Gonzalo Montiel (90 + 2) led Sevilla to the first victory in the European competition this season.

The club raised their tally to 5 points, 2 points behind Borussia Dortmund (the second), who will host England’s Manchester City (10 points), while Copenhagen have failed to continue in the European competitions this season after guaranteeing the bottom place in the group with just two points down.

Sevilla have continued their good performances since Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli’s arrival as successor to Julen Lopetegui, losing one game in all competitions, to Real Madrid Saturday in the league, with two wins and three draws.

Sevilla were the best side in the match but had to wait an hour into the meeting to open the scoring after Argentina’s Babo Gómez lifted a beautiful cross over the defenders into the box, followed by En-Nesyri’s header into the net (61).

Youssef En-Nesyri has scored more headed goals than any other Sevilla player in the Champions League (4) and he is already Sevilla’s second all-time top scorer in the competition (8) after Wissam Ben Yedder(10).

Isco doubled the hosts’ lead with a beautiful goal after hitting a shot from the right on the outskirts of the area at the top of the left corner of Polish goalkeeper Kamil Grabara’s goal (88).

Montiel sealed the victory after fellow substitute Eric Lamela hit a powerful ball from outside the area, which the keeper blocked to put it in front of the player who easily guided the ball into the net (90 + 2).

Georgian Davit Khocholava was dismissed by the visitors at the end of the game with direct red for a foul on Isco (90 + 4).