Sevilla stay on course for Europa League hat-trick

Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Sevilla 2

Sevilla stayed on course for a third straight Europa League title by claiming a 2-2 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine in the first leg of their semi-final.

It took only six minutes for the Spaniards to take the lead in Lviv. Gameiro released Vitolo and he was allowed to turn inside by Yaroslav Rakitskiy before finding the net.

Shakhtar responded positively and David Soria saved from Marlos before the Brazilian levelled matters in the 23rd minute.

Rakitskiy made up for his error by playing a terrific ball for Marlos, who was allowed acres of space to run through and finish with aplomb.

Shakhtar’s tails were certainly up and with 35 minutes on the clock the Ukrainians took the lead when Stepanenko needed only to get his head on it to beat Soria.

But, with 82 minutes on the clock, the visitors had their equaliser. Facundo Ferreyra fouled Vitolo as he tried to cut inside on the right of the box and Gameiro confidently netted the penalty.

SHAKHTAR DONETSK:

Pyatov,Srna,Kucher,Rakitskiy,Ismaily,Malyshev, Stepanenko,Marlos (Bernard 90),Kovalenko, Taison (Wellington Nem 90),Ferreyra (Eduardo 90).

SEVILLA:

Soria,Mariano,Rami,Carrico,Escudero,Krychowiak,Nzonzi, Vitolo,Banega,Konoplyanka (Krohn-Dehli 59),Gameiro, Krohn-Dehli (Coke 72).

Ref:

Szymon Marciniak (Poland).