Holders Sevilla scramble late draw

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SEVILLE, Spain -- A late penalty from midfielder Enzo Maresca allowed holders Sevilla to scramble a 2-2 draw at home to Ukraine champions Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of their UEFA Cup last-16 tie on Thursday.

Sevilla's bid to become the first team since Real Madrid in 1986 to make a successful defence of the trophy looked to have hit severe problems after Shakhtar had come from a goal down to take a 2-1 lead on the hour.

But Maresca spared the home side's blushes when he fired in from the spot after he had gone down in the area two minutes from time.

"We are still alive and I think we are capable of going there and winning," Maresca told Radio Marca. "This is a very important competition for us and we know how good it feels to win it."

Sevilla, who beat Barcelona 2-1 to take over at the top of the table last weekend, got off to a bright enough start when midfielder Jose Luis Marti put them ahead from the penalty spot in the eighth minute after striker Alexander Kerzhakov had been fouled by Shakhtar keeper Bohdan Shust.

Shakhtar equalised a little over 10 minutes later when Czech defender Tomas Huebschman drilled home from close range after a corner to score the Ukraine side's first goal in five visits to Spain in European competition.

Sevilla twice hit the post before the break, but Shakhtar went in front when Brazilian midfielder Matuzalem netted a penalty after striker Olexiy Bielik was brought down in the area on the hour.

With coach Juande Ramos deciding to leave leading striker Frederic Kanoute on the bench, Sevilla struggled to break down the Shakhtar defence and it took a second penalty to get them back in the tie.

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