Espanyol pile on Sevilla agony with away win

MADRID, Sep 26 (Reuters) Sevilla suffered their third defeat in a week, falling 3-2 at home to Espanyol in the Primera Liga.

Juande Ramos's side lost 3-0 at Arsenal in the Champions League and 2-1 to Barcelona in the Primera Liga last week and looked out of it again when Angel Martinez and Luis Garcia put Espanyol 2-0 up early in the second half yesterday.

Sevilla stormed back with an own goal by Daniel Jarque and a header by Arouna Kone but Espanyol substitute Raul Tamudo popped up to steal the winner two minutes from time.

Ramos's team slipped to sixth with six points from four games, four points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Espanyol, who gained a measure of revenge for their defeat in the UEFA Cup final in May, climbed to fifth on seven points.

Champions Real Madrid are at home to Real Betis tomorrow while Barcelona host Real Zaragoza today.

Sevilla started positively against Espanyol with Alexander Kerzhakov firing wide for the hosts.

An eerie silence fell over the stadium in the 16th minute as home fans observed a minute's silence for midfielder Antonio Puerta, who collapsed during the opening game of the season and later died in hospital.

Puerta used to wear the number 16 shirt.

Espanyol took the lead after 30 minutes when Angel capitalised on a poor clearance to score from outside the area.

Kerzhakov fired wide from point-blank range just after the restart and Espanyol made Sevilla pay with a swift counter-attack in the 54th when Albert Riera crossed for Luis Garcia to double the lead.

Sevilla replied seven minutes later when Jesus Navas broke down the right and his centre forced Jarque to turn the ball into his own net.

The home side levelled when Ivory Coast striker Kone rose to head home Diego Capel's cross in the 69th but as Sevilla went looking for the winner Tamudo latched on to Angel's pass to grab Espanyol's third.

REUTERS BJR SSC1036