Messi double sinks Sevilla at Nou Camp

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Sports / Soccer

Messi double sinks Sevilla at Nou Camp

(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-09-23 17:13

MADRID - Argentina forward Lionel Messi stole the show again when he
steered Barcelona to a 2-1 home win over Sevilla in the Primera Liga on
Saturday.

The 20-year-old was central to the 3-0 win over Olympique Lyon in the
Champions League on Wednesday and carried his team to victory once more
with two late goals in the Nou Camp.

The first was a spectacular volley and the second a penalty, and only a
fine save from Andres Palop denied him a hat-trick.

Frederic Kanoute pulled a goal back for Sevilla at the very end but it
was too late to stop Barca claiming all three points as they moved up to
second place a point behind Real Madrid.

On Sunday, leaders Real visit promoted Valladolid and Valencia travel to
Real Betis.

Sevilla, who suffered their first league defeat, are third three points
off the pace but with a game in hand of Barca.

Earlier, striker Javi Guerrero scored two stylish goals to earn
Recreativo Huelva their first victory of the season with a 2-1 comeback
win at home against Espanyol.

Andres Iniesta started for Barca in place of Ronaldinho, who pulled out
of the squad with a muscle strain earlier in the day, and he was
heavily-involved in a breathless opening.

Iniesta and Messi drove their team forward from the flanks but it was
Sevilla, decked out in a garish pink strip, who carved the first clear
opening at the Nou Camp.

MESSI OPENER

Renato's header in the 21st minute struck the outside of the post but the
teams appeared to cancel each other out after that. It was not until the
later stages that the game came to life.

In the 70th minute Rafael Marquez, who had already headed against the
post, put Thierry Henry through with a long pass but Palop just got his
hand to the shot and the ball bobbled on to the post.

However, he could do nothing about Messi's opener in the 72nd.

Henry threaded a pass into the area and Messi's control flicked the ball
into the air before the Argentine acrobatically hammered the ball into
the net with a flying volley.

Seven minutes later, substitute Giovani dos Santos was wrestled to the
ground by Christian Poulsen for a penalty.

Messi sent Palop the wrong way from the spot and Barca threatened to run
riot.

Sevilla's Renato put Mali striker Kanoute through to score in a
one-on-one in injury time though and the final seconds were tested the
home side's nerves before the final whistle.

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