Sevilla FC were denied a late victory as a 99th-minute equaliser from Espanyol's Marcos Fernández secured a 1-1 draw in La Liga. Playing over half an hour with ten men after Sangante's red card, the Andalusian side had taken the lead through Stassin with just five minutes remaining at the RCDE Stadium on the fourth matchday.
The key moment came in the 55th minute when defender Sangante was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Roberto, a decision upheld after a VAR review. Despite the numerical disadvantage, substitute Stassin broke the deadlock in the 85th minute, seemingly securing three points for the visitors. However, deep into stoppage time, Fernández pounced on a loose ball in the box to snatch a dramatic draw. The match was reported by ABC Deportes.
Why was Sangante sent off?
The game's major incident occurred in the second half. Sangante's challenge on Roberto prompted an immediate red card from the referee. After consulting the pitchside monitor, the official confirmed his initial decision. Sevilla defender Kike Salas, who was nearby, disagreed with the call. "I'm right next to it and I clearly see he touches the ball." Salas stated.
Espanyol manager Luis García Plaza also commented on the incident. "It's not a red. The player cannot vanish. We are overcomplicating football too much. It's not a red, it's fine." said the coach. The dismissal forced Sevilla into a defensive reshuffle for the final 40 minutes of the contest.
How does the result affect the league table?
The single point leaves Sevilla on 7 points from their first four league matches. This places the club eighth in the La Liga standings, having taken six points from two wins and one loss in their opening three games. Their goal difference stands at +1, having scored six and conceded five. They now trail league leaders Barcelona by three points.
Attention now turns to a important home fixture. Sevilla host Valencia at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán on September 11. Valencia, currently languishing in 18th place, will be desperate for their first win. For that match, Sevilla will continue to be without the injured Rubén Vargas, whose status is listed on the club's injuries page.
What were the lineup changes?
The Sevilla manager made several notable selections. The match saw the official debut of youngster Lucas, who also found the net. Also, new signing Fofana earned minutes, having not completed a full 90 minutes since February 1. Possession and chances were evenly shared in a tightly-contested match from the outset.
The team showed resilience to take the lead while a man down, but ultimately could not withstand Espanyol's late onslaught. The draw extends Sevilla's unbeaten run but represents two points dropped from a winning position. The squad's full schedule ahead can be found on the fixtures page as they prepare for the Valencia clash.
