Sevilla Suffers Defeat in Preseason Friendly Against Orlando Pirates
Sevilla’s preseason campaign got off to a disappointing start as they lost 0-2 to Orlando Pirates, the recent champion of the Nedbank Cup and the MTN 8, in a friendly match played at the Jesús Navas stadium in the sports city.
First Half Analysis
Sevilla took to the field with a team consisting mostly of youth players, with only one of the four signings, Chidera Ejuke, featuring in the starting lineup. Ejuke showed flashes of brilliance, displaying his speed and agility, but his performance was marred by occasional lack of polish. The Nigerian player was involved in several scoring opportunities, including a shot that crashed onto the crossbar after a Suso filtered pass, but was ultimately ruled out due to offside.
Orlando Pirates, on the other hand, took the lead in the 21st minute when Timm finished a corner kick with his heel at the near post, catching Nyland off guard.
Second Half and Conclusion
Sevilla made several changes to their lineup in the second half, introducing more first-team players, including Lucas Ocampos, who captained the team. Ocampos, known for his performances in big games, failed to make a significant impact, but his presence did improve the team’s overall performance.
Orlando Pirates added a second goal in the 82nd minute when Dlamini scored, putting the game beyond Sevilla’s reach. Despite their defeat, Sevilla coach Xavier García Pimienta will be hoping to see an improvement in his team’s performance in their next friendly match against Sporting Portugal on July 23rd.
Match Details
- Date: [Date of the match]
- Stadium: Jesús Navas Stadium, Sports City
- Attendance: Behind closed doors
- Referee: José Antonio Palomares (Cádiz)
- Yellow Cards: Timm (19′), Sow (86′)
- Goals: Timm (21′), Dlamini (82′)
- Lineups:
- Sevilla: Nyland; Jose Angel, Ramon, Kike Salas, Hormigo; Suso, Pedro Ortiz, Pablo Rivera, Collado, Ejuke; Mateo
- Orlando Pirates: Chaide; Ndah, Sesane, Lebitso, Saleng, Timm; Mbatha, Otto; Kimvuidi; Mabasa, Mofokeng