Two goals from Alvaro Negredo helped earn Sevilla a 3-3 draw at Villarreal in the Copa del Rey.
Holders scramble to first-leg draw
Two goals from Alvaro Negredo and a late strike by Alexis scrambled a 3-3 draw for Copa del Rey holders Sevilla at Villarreal in their quarter-final first leg.
Villarreal deservedly took a two-goal lead with a volley from Ruben Garcia Cani (25) and a deflected Giuseppe Rossi shot after a corner shortly before the half-hour mark.
Negredo muscled his way past a defender to pull one back for Sevilla against the run of play in the 39th minute.
But Marco Ruben nodded Villarreal 3-1 up early in the second half to seemingly leave the holders facing elimination.
However, Negredo struck again with a back-post header on the hour mark and then Alexis swept a low shot inside the far post in the 88th minute, after a clever step-over from Frederic Kanoute, to complete the comeback.
