Gaya misses late penalty as Sevilla hold Valencia

Madrid, Oct 18, 2022 (AFP) - Valencia captain Jose Gaya missed a late penalty amid a chaotic finale as Sevilla held the visitors to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday in La Liga.

Erik Lamela's 86th minute strike earned Jorge Sampaoli's side a creditable draw against Gennaro Gattuso's relentless Los Che, in a pulsating clash at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Sampaoli was not able to build on his first win since replacing Julen Lopetegui at the helm, but will be happy with a point as Valencia blew the chance to snatch all three in stoppage time.

After netting a brace against Elche to open his Valencia account at the weekend, Edinson Cavani sent the visitors ahead with a firm header from Dimitri Foulquier's deep cross in the sixth minute.

Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili made two stunning saves in quick succession to deny Rafa Mir, first twisting to tip over a vicious strike, then clawing away a header.

Sevilla kept pushing in the second half and Nemanja Gudelj headed against the crossbar while Papu Gomez sent an ambitious volley into the side-netting.

Both sides were guilty of heavy challenges but it created a chaotic, aggressive contest, amid which Sevilla eventually found a leveller through Lamela. The former Tottenham midfielder finished at the back post after a corner was flicked on.

The drama wasn't over -- far from it. Sevilla's Papu Gomez was sent off late on for hacking down Justin Kluivert just outside the area as he ran through on goal, but the red card was cancelled and shown to Kike Salas instead.

The young defender had shoved over Thierry Correia in the moments after Gomez's foul when advantage had been played, so the referee awarded a penalty.

However Sevilla had the last laugh when goalkeeper Bono tipped away Gaya's spot kick, delighting Sevilla's raucous support.

The result leaves Sevilla provisionally 11th and Valencia in eighth. Later Tuesday Atletico Madrid host Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Bilbao face Getafe.