Independiente del Valle was minutes away from a historic win at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium against FC Sevilla in the Antonio Puerta Trophy, the pilot test of the UEFA Cup-Conmebol Club Challenge pitting the Europa League and Copa Sudamericana champions. The Negriazules were celebrating 0-1 until the 90th minute, 42 seconds, when Pedro Ortiz scored for the Andalusians to equalize, and then the Ecuadorian was defeated in stoppage time with 4-1.

Although Sevilla had the first chance when Papua Gómez’s shot was palmed away by Moisés Ramírez, Rayados took the lead shortly after the start through Lautaro Díaz, who capitalized on Kike Salas’ mistake on a long delivery to square Dmitrovic and beat him from the low spot.

Sevilla players were more determined after the break, when they stole the ball from Chillo Jijón’s players and attacked, especially the home side since Isaac missed a free kick after Juanlu’s cross (57), and right after that Manu Bueno tried to hit the top corner with a shot (59).

The final minutes were a siege of Sevilla’s goal for Ramírez, who was even booked for time-wasting and who, after stopping Óliver Torres’ dangerous volley, conceded the equalizer after Pedro Ortiz tapped Idrissi’s cross at the far post.

Ortiz avoided the first embarrassment of the pre-season for the team that is the first winner of the UEFA Europa League.

Independiente del Valle’s coach, Argentine Martín Anselmi, bemoaned the manner of the defeat at Sevilla, especially as the UEFA-Conmebol Club Challenge Cup represented the Negriazules’ best chance to reach the Liga de Quito in an international record four Conmebol titles.

“We were a little sad because it got away from us at the end, they have a hierarchy and come from defining the cup on penalties, and so did we, and they shot better than us. That (bitter) taste remains, but we were also able to show the world what Independiente del Valle is, we played as equals, that was us, we didn’t give up at any moment,” he told the channel at the end of the game. DSports.

“At the end we started to run out of legs, we tried to keep the result, but they came, they are Sevilla. That taste remains, which is a little bit left”, he emphasized.

“The pre-season was spectacular. We came to compete, we came to meet these rivals and show that we can equalize against Sevilla in ninety minutes,” Anselmi said.

(D)