Kanoute guides resurgent Sevilla to comeback win

MADRID - Frederic Kanoute was the hero as Sevilla scored a thrilling 3-2 comeback win away to Real Sociedad Saturday.

The veteran Mali striker scored Sevilla’s first and third goals, in a game full of goalmouth action and excitement. It was Sevilla’s second consecutive win and confirms their emergence from a horrible run of form.

They are now ninth - with 26 points from 18 games - while Real Sociedad slip down to 11th.

Midfielder Diego Rivas gave Sociedad an early lead with a long shot, only for Kanoute to quickly level for Sevilla with a crisp volley after Luis Fabiano had headed on a corner from Diego Perotti.

Joseba Llorente restored Sociedad’s lead two minutes before half-time after being set up by Daniel Estrada.

But Sevilla dominated the second half, and turned the score around with two goals within two minutes. Luis Fabiano made it 2-2 in the 63rd minute after another Perotti corner had created more confusion in the shaky home defence.

And just two minutes later Kanoute netted the winner after a fast break engineered by Alvaro Negredo.

Earlier Saturday, new-look Malaga were held to a late 1-1 draw at home to defiant Athletic Bilbao, a result which keeps them in the relegation dogfight.

Debutant Martin Demichelis, one of Malaga’s many winter signings, gave the hosts the lead with 10 minutes left by heading in a near-post corner from Portuguese midfielder Duda.

The Argentine defender was one of four new signings making their debut for Malaga, who have spent more heavily in the January transfer market than any other European club.

A tight win seemed in the cards for Malaga, but, three minutes into injury time, Bilbao veteran Igor Gabilondo played a speculative free-kick into the Malaga area - and World Cup reserve Javi Martinez made it 1-1 with a surprising back-header.

The hosts had dominated from start to finish against a Bilbao side hung over after Wednesday’s King’s Cup elimination against Barcelona. The visitors created little danger for new Malaga keeper Sergio Asenjo - until Martinez levelled right at the death.

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini said: “I cannot be happy with this result, though we did play a good match. We had enough chances to win, and should have done so.”

The disappointing draw keeps Malaga fifth from bottom, with 17 points from 18 games. Bilbao, for their part, are eighth with 26 points.

Later Saturday, leaders Barcelona are away to Deportivo Coruna.

Barca are two points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who are at home to third-placed Villarreal Sunday.