Sevilla crown brilliant season with King's Cup

MADRID, June 24 (Reuters) Sevilla crowned an outstanding season with victory in the King's Cup final when a first-half strike from leading scorer Frederic Kanoute earned them a 1-0 win over Bernd Schuster's Getafe.

Kanoute grabbed the winner in a tight, hot-tempered contest at the Bernabeu stadium yesterday when he raced clear from a few metres inside the Getafe half and stroked the ball past goalkeeper Luis Garcia into the net after 11 minutes.

But the evening ended on a low note for the Mali striker when he was sent off for retaliating after being fouled in the dying minutes of the game.

For his team, however, it was a fitting end to a brilliant campaign that began with victory over Barcelona in the European Super Cup and continued with a successful defence of the UEFA Cup when they beat fellow Spaniards Espanyol last month.

Getafe coach Bernd Schuster won six King's Cups as a player but his luck deserted him this time as the first-time finalists fought tooth and nail throughout but lacked the firepower to break down the streetwise Sevilla defence.

There was some consolation for the modest Madrid side, however, because they will play in the UEFA Cup next season because Sevilla have qualified for the Champions League.

Although Getafe hail from a modest satellite town to the south of the Spanish capital, their supporters were heavily outnumbered at the Bernabeu by the thousands of Sevilla fans who had travelled up from the south.

ELECTRIC ATMOSPHERE The Andalucians responded to the electric atmosphere with a high-tempo start, but it was the Madrid side who had the first chance to take the lead.

Swiss midfielder Fabio Celestini put striker Daniel Guiza in the clear, but just as it looked as though he might skip past Andres Palop on the edge of the area, the Sevilla keeper managed to sweep the ball away from his feet.

A minute later opposite number Kanoute gave Guiza a masterclass in finishing.

Snapping up a loose ball after an error by centre-back Ruben Pulido on the halfway line, the Mali striker galloped down the pitch and coolly steered a low shot into the net.

Juande Ramos's side were denied a second when Garcia made a great reaction save to beat away a fierce drive from midfielder Renato after good work by fellow Brazilians Luis Fabiano and Daniel Alves.

Getafe fought back hard in the final 10 minutes of the first half, but although they gave the Sevilla back four a couple of scares they were unable to trouble Palop.

The Andalucians remained in control for most of the second period but were unable to extend their advantage against gritty opponents.

The match was soured by a series of flare-ups between players in the closing minutes with Kanoute receiving his marching orders for kicking out after a foul by Francisco Casquero.

It mattered little to the 50,000 Sevilla fans packed into the Bernabeu. They exploded with delight at the final whistle as their team won their first King's Cup since 1948.

REUTERS PDS BST0512