Espanyol and Sevilla drawing 1-1 at halftime in UEFA Cup

GLASGOW, May 16 (Reuters) Sevilla and Espanyol were drawing 1-1 at halftime after an exciting opening 45 minutes in the all-Spanish UEFA Cup final at Hampden Park today.

Holders Sevilla took the lead in the 18th minute thanks to a breakaway goal from winger Adriano Correia, but Espanyol hit back 10 minutes later through midfielder Albert Riera.

Adriano put Sevilla in front in the 18th minute, curling a shot low the far corner from the left side of the area after he was put in the clear when keeper Andres Palop caught Espanyol off guard by hurling out a long throw on to the left flank.

Espanyol were momentarily knocked off their stride, but got back into the match with Riera's strike just before the half hour.

The winger cut inside from the left and beat Palop with a powerful strike that deflected off the foot of fullback Daniel Alves and flew high into the far corner.

Reuters SRS VP0115