Champions League: Vardy Goal Gives Leicester Hope in Sevilla Loss

Sevilla beat Leicester 2-1 while Juventus defeated host FC Porto.

Jamie Vardy (right) celebrates after scoring his first goal of the year. (Photo: AP)

Sevilla were unable to capitalise on their dominant performance in a 2-1 Champions League win over Leicester on Wednesday as Jamie Vardy scored a crucial goal — his first of the year — to keep the English champions alive in the round of 16.

Vardy scored in the 73rd minute in one of the few chances created by the visitors at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium in Seville.

Pablo Sarabia and Joaquin Correa scored in each half for Sevilla to leave the Spanish club a draw away from reaching the quarterfinals of the European competition for the first time in nearly 60 years.

Pablo Sarabia and Joaquin Correa scored in each half for Sevilla. (Photo: AP)

We were far superior with some 10 clear chances, but we were not able to earn the advantage that we wanted. We deserved more.

Jorge Sampaoli, Sevilla Coach

Only a quarter-hour into the game, Correa missed a penalty for the hosts, which are a three-time defending champion in the Europa League but haven't advanced past the last 16 in the Champions League since 1958.

Sarabia opened the scoring with a firm header into the far corner after a cross by Sergio Escudero from the left side. And Correa made up for his missed penalty by adding to the lead from close range after a pass by Stevan Jovetic in the 62nd.

Sevilla’s Joaquin Correa runs in to score a goal. (Photo: AP)

Struggling to stay out of the relegation zone in its Premier League title defence, Leicester scored the important away goal when Vardy got to a low left-side cross by Danny Drinkwater.

Sevilla almost claimed a third goal after an 88th-minute header by Adil Rami struck the crossbar.

The result kept Sevilla unbeaten in eight games in all competitions, a run of six wins and two draws.

Juventus Beat FC Porto 2-0

Juventus’ Dani Alves celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal. (Photo: AP)

In Wednesday's other Champions League match, Juventus defeated host FC Porto 2-0 with second-half goals by substitutes Marko Pjaca and Dani Alves.

Struggling to break through 10-man FC Porto in the Champions League round-of-16 match, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri resorted to two second-half substitutes who turned the game around for the Italian champions on Wednesday.

Pjaca and Alves broke through with goals in the 72nd and 74th minutes of the first leg to give Juventus a commanding advantage.

Porto had held out since Alex Telles was sent off in the 27th after two rash fouls.

Porto players surround referee Felix Brych after he showed a red card to Porto’s Alex Telles. (Photo: AP)

Juventus hemmed Porto in its area and Pjaca scored five minutes after coming on.

Allegri then sent Alves on and he was even quicker in finding the net — two minutes after joining the game.

We hit twice in quick succession when they got tired, exactly as Allegri told us to do. He kept telling us to stay calm and serene and wait for the right moment because it would certainly arrive.

Miralem Pjanic, Juventus Midfielder

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci missed the match as punishment for his outburst aimed at Allegri. Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini were both back after the defenders recovered from thigh injuries.

The second leg is in Turin on March 16.

(With inputs from AP.)