Sevilla have opened up a two-goal advantage over Mirandes at the halfway stage of their two-legged Copa del Rey quarter-final courtesy of a 2-0 victory at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan this evening.
© AFP
The hosts went into the match as heavy favourites to gain a lead ahead of next week's second leg having won 10 of their last 13 matches in all competitions, including each of their last four.
Real Betis were put to the sword with a 6-0 aggregate victory in the last round, and it looked as though Unai Emery's side might be on course for another comfortable win when they took the lead after just 20 minutes.
Steven N'Zonzi got the goal, collecting a pass from Daniel Carrico before steering the ball past Raul Fernandez in the Mirandes goal.
Any hopes that Sevilla may go on to kill their lower-league opponents off in the first leg looked unlikely to materialise, however, as Mirandes kept the deficit at one for almost the remainder of the contest.
However, the hosts got a crucial second goal with virtually the last action of the match as Vitolo fired home in the 94th minute to make things a little more comfortable for his side ahead of the second leg.
The two sides will meet again at the Estadio Municipal de Anduva next Wednesday with a place in the semi-finals of the competition at stake.
Barney Corkhill
