Sevilla 1 - Real Mallorca 3
Real Mallorca ended an eight-game winless away run in La Liga by sensationally coming back from behind to wallop Sevilla 1-3.
After another poor first half for Mallorca, Sevilla went ahead in the 16th minute when a defensive error from Maffeo saw the Chilean Varga unmarked and his shot went through Mallorca keeper Leo Roman’s legs, 1-0. In the first half Mallorca’s left-wing sensation, 19-year-old Jan Virgili showed what a genius he is, some may even say another Messi in the making. His pace and trickery troubled the home defence all afternoon and his dribbling skills were a joy to behold.
Fortunately the second half was nothing like the first as Mallorca came out with all guns blazing and turned the result of the game around in stunning fashion. We started competing so much better and deservedly drew level with just 20 minutes remaining. Virgili was the provider as his ball into the area saw Muriqi hammer home a left-foot shot from a tight angle that gave him his fifth goal of the season.
In the 61st minute came master-stroke substitutions from coach Arrasate, replacing Mateo Jaume with Mojica and Leeds United loanee Mateo Joseph coming on for Binissalem’s Llabres. Mojica’s cross in the 72nd minute was superbly put away by Mateo and five minutes later he scored another beauty past Sevilla’s goalkeeper Balachodimos (on loan from Newcastle Utd), and it looked like game over.
A shocking referee added on eight minutes extra time but Mallorca were home and hosed. The Palma side have found a new attacking duo in Virgili and Muriqi. At last Mateo Joseph, who had been making a good impression in previous games, came good with two goals. In all honesty, us Mallorquinistas didn’t see this result coming but on Saturday afternoon we achieved a prestigious victory against all odds. Let’s just hope this win could represent a turning point in our season. Never mind Lazarus, this was a much better resurrection!
Next up in Son Moix on Sunday (October 26) at 2pm are last year’s second division champions Levante. Could that game see our first back-to-back wins of the season? MAN OF THE MATCH: MATEO JOSEPH.