After watching from my armchair Sevilla hammer Middlesborough in the UEFA cup in Eindhoven in 2006, I knew this was a team I could seriously love. Attacking, skillful play. It was like watching Brazil! 4 goals later and the fairy tale was complete. Sevilla, without a trophy for 58 years finally ended the drought through Maresca (2), Fabiano and Kanoute.
How overjoyed I was in 2007 to learn that Sevilla had made it to the final for a second year running, and even better, it was in my home town!! It was at Hampden Park, Glasgow, on a rainy May day in the Southside of Glasgow that I witnessed first hand how exciting it is to follow Sevilla FC. Amazingly, I managed to get 2 tickets for face value from 2 Sevilla fans as their friend couldn't make the match, and after frantically phoning my mate to come along we headed into the middle of the Sevilla end and joined right in with the singing and dancing.
The game was one of the greatest of UEFA finals, and once again Hampden Park provided the back drop. It didn't take long to burst into life. Brazilian left wing back Adriano sent 15,000 Sevilla fans and I into raptures after collecting Palop's long throw, skipping past a challenge before nestling the ball into the Espanyol net. It all happened so fast it didn't seem real.
The game ebbed and flowed for the next hour or so. Espanyol equalised, had a man sent off, the game went to extra time, Kanoute looked to have sealed the win (after a less than brilliant performance) and then Jonatas screamed home another equaliser in the dying moments. It was truly fantastic stuff.
Penalty kicks. The atmosphere was tense. We all joined arms and sang Palop's name as he made his way between the sticks in front of the Espanyol supporters. 3 saves later and Sevilla were champions again!
Palop was the hero in Glasgow
celebrations ensued
sadly at the start of this season, Sevilla midfielder Antonio Puerta died from Heart failure. During the first game of the La Liga season against Getafe, Puerta fell to the ground after jogging back to his goal line. Sevilla players and medics rushed to his side to prevent him from swallowing his tongue.
He was able to walk from the pitch but doctors said that he collapsed again in the changing rooms and had to be given cardiac resuscitation before being taken to the Virgen del Rocio hospital.
Hospital director Gimeno Guerrero said Puerta died of "multiple organ failure, stemming from prolonged cardiac arrest."
It will take a while for everyone at the club to fully get over his loss, and any success or failure this season will surely be overshadowed by his death.
Antonio Puerta 1984 - 2007
1 comment:
Keeo at it. Don't stop writing
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