Villarreal 1 : 3 Sevilla - Vitolo scores fastest goal

Posted Friday, March 13, 2015 by PA

Vitolo scored the fastest goal in Europa League history as holders Sevilla took a giant step towards the quarter-finals with a 3-1 away victory over Spanish rivals Villarreal.

Vitolo needed just 13.21 seconds to put Sevilla ahead at El Madrigal, and break the previous record of 15.19secs set by AEK Athens' striker Ismael Blanco against BATE Borisov in 2009.

Further goals from Stephane Mbia and Kevin Gameiro - either side of a Luciano Vietto strike for the hosts - then put Sevilla in a position of power ahead of the last-16 second leg.

Sevilla, looking to win the tournament for a record-breaking fourth time following their triumphs in 2006, 2007 and 2014, could not have dreamed of a better start as Vitolo scored almost immediately after the kick-off.

Villarreal failed to deal with a long ball forward and, after Kevin Gameiro's delicate lob put him in behind the home defence, Vitolo coolly controlled the ball on his chest before slotting past Sergio Asenjo on the volley.

That was a massive body blow for Villarreal, but incredibly they could have been level within 90 seconds as they raced up the other end and Luciano Vietto saw his drive crash back off the crossbar.

Denis Cheryshev and Vietto then brought saves out of Sergio Rico as the Yellow Submarine laid siege to the Sevilla goal, only for the visitors to then snatch a second goal in the 26th minute.

Benoit Tremoulinas swung over a cross from the left and Mbia got ahead of his marker to power a diving header into the roof of the net.

Sevilla were in dreamland, and it almost got even better for the Andalusians in the 40th minute when they created a chance for Alex Vidal, whose side-footed effort struck the bar.

Half-time failed to temper a breathtaking match and there were two more goals in the opening five minutes of the second half.

Vietto halved the deficit when he slotted into an empty net following a goalmouth scramble - the goal being awarded after the referee spent a good while consulting with his officials - but just 60 seconds later Sevilla restored their two-goal advantage.

Vicente Iborra headed down a free-kick launched into the area and the unmarked Gameiro flashed home a right-footed finish from near the penalty spot.

Villarreal tried to find another goal in the final half-hour and substitute Joel Campbell, Cheryshev and Vietto - who was denied by a brilliant double save from Rico in the 90th minute - all went close, but the hosts drew a blank and now face a big challenge to make the last eight.