Varas is Sevilla's hero

Posted Saturday, November 05, 2011 by PA

Not for the first time this season, Sevilla goalkeeper Javi Varas was the hero as his side claimed a point with a 0-0 draw against Mallorca.

Mallorca dominated the start of the second half but missed a host of great chances, with Alejandro Alfaro the main culprit.

Sevilla then had their best period in the final 10 minutes but created very little, with Dudu Aouate easily turning away their best effort through Jesus Navas.

The visitors were missing their two main strikers in Alvaro Negredo and Freddie Kanoute, and their lack of a focal point up front showed throughout the match.

Tomer Hemed had the first effort on goal but could not keep his effort down while sliding in at the near post on 14 minutes.

As the rain began to pour down, Alfaro scuffed his volley wide from the edge of the box before directing team-mate Emilio Nsue's goalbound effort over the bar.

Nsue looked the most likely player to break the deadlock and his shot was well saved by Varas just before the break.

Minutes after the interval Nsue was involved in another good Mallorca move as he cut the ball back to Chori Castro, but his effort lacked the power to cause Varas any problems.

However, the Sevilla goalkeeper was looking much more uncomfortable with high balls into the box and when he flapped at a cross on the hour mark, Castro should have done better than just fire the ball against the wall of Sevilla defenders in the box.

Alfaro then missed the best chance of the match as another cross from the right was completely missed by Julien Escude leaving the Mallorca midfielder all alone only 10 yards out, but he wastefully shot over the bar.

Varas did well to deny Alfaro again only minutes later as he dived bravely at the former Tenerife man's feet, and those missed chances started to take their toll on Mallorca as their belief drained and Sevilla came back into the match.

Navas's effort from Federico Fazio's knock down had to be turned behind by Aouate with six minutes remaining and Manu del Moral hit the side-netting from Jose Campana's free-kick with the last kick of the game.