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Betis' Joaquin decides fiery Seville derby as Machin criticises VAR

The veteran winger scored the only goal of the game to hand Real Betis victory

Albert Gracia

Real Betis edged an even Seville derby as Joaquin's goal 10 minutes from time gave them a narrow 1-0 win over Sevilla at the Benito Villamarín on Sunday. 

Veteran winger Joaquin, now 37, came on as a substitute to head home the winner in the 80th minute and send the home fans into ecstasy. 

However, Sevilla coach Pablo Machin bemoaned that the game had changed earlier in the second half when Roque Mesa was sent off. 

Mesa was dismissed for picking up a second booking after clashing with goalkeeper Pau Lopez, although the midfielder argued he should have won a penalty. 

There was no use of VAR, though, and the Mesa was left to trudge off the pitch as Pau breathed a sigh of relief, leaving Machin angry. 

"Roque's furious because he says a possible penalty has ended up with him being sent off," Machin said. "You would hope that with so much VAR and so much technology, they would have looked over it properly. But if it’s going to be used to make decisions like that, refereeing should be done in the BAR, not with VAR, with a few beers.

 

"[Mesa] is indignant. He says that the goalkeeper's the one who's caught him and it's an act of aggression. The images back up what he's saying."