TRONDHEIM: Real Madrid defeated Spanish opposition for the fourth successive time with a European title at stake when they edged Sevilla 3-2 after extra time in the UEFA Supercup in Norway.
Madrid had defeated neighbours Atletico to win their last two Champions League finals in 2014 and this past season and also saw off Europa League Sevilla holders in the Super Cup two years ago.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored both goals when Real defeated Sevilla in Cardiff but injury suffered leadng Portugal to victory at Euro 2016 sidelined him this time and thus it was Dani Carvajal who turned out to be the European champions’ unlikely hero.
The rightback struck just a minute away from a penalty shoot-out, running from near halfway before beating keeper Sergio Rico with the outside of his right foot.
Earlier Madrid had once again rescued themselves just in the nick of time. They had been trailing 2-1 deep into stoppage-time at the end of 90 minutes when skipper Sergio Ramos headed them level. Carvajal made the most of their escape.
Penalty goal
Sevilla substitute Yevhen Konoplyanka looked to have won it with a coolly-taken 72nd-minute penalty as the Andalusian side – who have now lost three Supercup games in a row – bounced back from 20-year-old Madrid debutant Marco Asensio’s stunning opener.
The Europa League winners levelled through Franco Vazquez before the break to set the stage for Konoplyanka’s contribution, only for Ramos, who had conceded the penalty, to make amends right at the end of regulation time.
Madrid, who were without not only Cristiano Ronaldo but also Gareth Bale and started with Karim Benzema and Luka Modric on the bench, were quickly out of the blocks in the all-Spanish encounter with wide-man Asensio prominent in the early stages.
He gave Rico no chance with 21 minutes gone when he picked up possession 25 yards out and unleashed a left-foot shot.
Madrid keeper Kiko Casilla had to turn away Daniel Carrico’s drive from distance as it reared up off the turf ahead of him on the half-hour, but he was beaten four minutes before the break when Franco Vazquez, a €12.8m summer signing from Palermo, fired a left-foot shot across him and into the bottom corner.
All-square
Rico came to the rescue when he kept out Isco’s header from Lucas Vazquez’s cross two minutes later with Madrid looking for an instant response, and the sides went in level at the break.
The Champions League holders resumed in determined fashion and Isco saw a 55th-minute shot deflected just wide after turning neatly on to Asensio’s pull-back.
Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane introduced Benzema as a 62nd-minute replacement for Alvaro Morata and both the newcomer and Ramos went close in quick succession, but it was Sevilla who took the lead for the first time with 18 minutes remaining.
Vitolo lured Ramos into an ill-advised challenge as he cut inside into the penalty area and Serbian referee Milorad Mazic pointed to the spot, handing Konoplyanka – who had been on the pitch for less than five minutes – the chance to calmly send Casilla the wrong way.
Ramos repaid the debt to his team-mates deep into injury time when Lucas Vazquez delivered the perfect cross for him to head home a priceless equaliser against his former club.
He then saw a spectacular second goal harshly disallowed in extra-time after Sevilla defender Timothee Kolodziejczak had been sent off for a second bookable offence, and Rico made fine blocks to deny substitute James Rodriguez and Lucas Vazquez as time ran down.
But there was nothing the keeper could do to deny Carvajal with barely a minute remaining when stole back possession, raced forward from the right and stabbed an audacious shot into the net to snatch victory.
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