Ocampos scores then pulls off crucial save as Sevilla close in on Champions League berth

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  • Sevilla’s Ocampos scored only goal then acted as keeper
  • Keeper Vaclik injured after Sevilla had used all substitutes
  • Ocampos thwarted Eibar keeper Dmitrovic late in game
  • Sevilla tightens grip on fourth spot thanks to the victory

Sevilla winger Lucas Ocampos struck the decisive goal and pulled off a last-gasp save as a makeshift goalkeeper as his side beat Eibar 1-0 on Monday in La Liga to home in on a return to the Champions League.

The Argentine broke the deadlock in the 56th minute by sliding in at the far post to bundle in a cross from Jesus Navas, and then pulled on a goalkeeper’s jersey for the final minutes after keeper Tomas Vaclik was carried off on a stretcher deep into added time.

Coach Julen Lopetegui had made all five of the permitted substitutes so could not bring on a reserve keeper but Ocampos proved up to the task by repelling a shot from Eibar keeper Marko Dmitrovic in the 11th minute of added time.

Dmitrovic had come up from his area to contest a late corner and almost snatched an equaliser but fired straight at Ocampos, who spread his arms to turn the shot away.

“I like to play in goal in training but I never imagined I would end up playing in goal in a match in the last few minutes but I’m always ready to help the team in any position,” Ocampos said.

“Before I went in goal the goalkeeping coach told me not to go far from the goal and the ball came towards me, I was able to push it away and we got the three points.”

The victory gave fourth-placed Sevilla a six-point cushion over fifth-placed Villarreal with four games remaining.

Eibar meanwhile remain in danger of relegation, occupying the final spot outside the bottom three with a six-point lead over 18th-placed Real Mallorca.

Earlier on Monday, Real Sociedad’s slim hopes of finishing in the top four practically ended with a disappointing 1-1 draw at Levante on Monday, as Alexander Isak’s 12th-minute strike was quickly cancelled out by a goal from Levante’s Jose Luis Morales.

Sociedad were fourth in the standings in March when action in La Liga was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic but have only picked up five points in seven games since the re-start.

They are seventh on 51 points, while Levante are 12th on 43 points.

The post Ocampos scores then pulls off crucial save as Sevilla close in on Champions League berth appeared first on The Himalayan Times.

Written by Sandeep Sen
This news first appeared on https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/ocampos-scores-then-pulls-off-crucial-save-as-sevilla-close-in-on-champions-league-berth/ under the title “Ocampos scores then pulls off crucial save as Sevilla close in on Champions League berth”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.