Sevilla in semis after winning resumed Cup tie

MADRID, March 20 (Reuters) Sevilla secured their place in the last four of the King's Cup after they kept a clean sheet in the remaining 33 minutes of their resumed quarter-final tie against city rivals Real Betis.

The original match at the Betis stadium was halted after Sevilla coach Juande Ramos was knocked out by a bottle thrown from the stands shortly after Mali striker Frederic Kanoute gave the visitors a 1-0 aggregate lead.

Sevilla, who are level on points with league leaders Barcelona and are in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup, had few problems keeping their neighbours at bay in a match which was played behind closed doors at Getafe's stadium in Madrid.

Luis Fernandez's side needed two goals to turn the tables on their neighbours but it was Sevilla who had the best chances of the remaining half hour.

Betis keeper Pedro Contreras had to produce sharp reflex saves to deny forward goal-bound efforts from forward Alejandro Alfaro, winger Antonio Puerta and fullback Daniel Alves.

Betis's only clear chance came when the ball fell to striker Robert on the edge of the area five minutes from time but the Brazilian lashed wide of the far post.

Sevilla will join Barcelona, Getafe and Deportivo Coruna in Thursday's draw for the semi-finals.

Ramos was unable to resist the temptation to gloat over the victory against his former club.

''I'm surprised Betis were so bad,'' he told a news conference.

''They were not able to compete in the tie and I think they were flattered by the result.

''They gave it to us on a plate. It was much easier than we expected.'' Fernandez said Ramos had got carried away by his team's victory.

''Sometimes success goes to people's heads,'' said the Frenchman. ''I think the minimum we should do after what happened in the first leg is to avoid saying this sort of things. They won and that's all there is to it.'' REUTERS PDS PM0621