Sevilla crush Levante

MADRID – UEFA Cup holders Sevilla continued their impressive start to the season with a 4-0 drubbing of Levante on Tuesday that put them top of the Primera Liga after the opening round of matches.

The UEFA Cup holders, who won the European Super Cup by beating Barcelona 3-0 on Friday, romped to another easy victory thanks to an opener from Frederic Kanoute and a hat-trick from fellow striker Kepa. Mali international Kanoute began the rout when he fired home at the far post in the eighth minute and Kepa made it 2-0 before the half hour was up when he netted a fine cross from wing back Daniel Alves.The former Sevilla youth team player added a third early in the second half after another fine cross from Alves and completed his hat-trick two minutes from time when he followed up after a Kanoute shot.The defeat was a rude awakening for Levante, who won promotion to the top flight after finishing third in the second division last season.Six other teams also won their opening matches, including champions Barcelona who snatched a dramatic 3-2 win at Celta Vigo on Monday thanks to a last-gasp strike from new signing Eidur Gudjohnsen.Barca’s arch-rivals Real Madrid made a disappointing start to the season with a 0-0 draw at home to Villarreal on Sunday.WINGER ODONKOR JOINS REAL BETIS Meanwhile, Germany’s World Cup winger David Odonkor has left Borussia Dortmund for Real Betis in a deal worth six million euros (US$7,69 million), the Bundesliga club announced on Monday.The 22-year-old signed a five-year contract with the Spanish team after passing a medical on Monday evening.Odonkor, who made his Bundesliga debut in 2002, was a surprise inclusion in Juergen Klinsmann’s squad for this year’s World Cup.He had still to make his full international debut when he received the call but wasted little time making a name for himself, coming off the bench in Germany’s second game to set up a last-gasp winner for Oliver Neuville against Poland.Odonkor has won six caps, all as a substitute.He is lightning fast and was once timed at 10.7 seconds over 100 metres at Dortmund.Odonkor will replace Spain winger Joaquin, who left Betis for Valencia for 25 million euros on Monday.Nampa-ReutersMali international Kanoute began the rout when he fired home at the far post in the eighth minute and Kepa made it 2-0 before the half hour was up when he netted a fine cross from wing back Daniel Alves.The former Sevilla youth team player added a third early in the second half after another fine cross from Alves and completed his hat-trick two minutes from time when he followed up after a Kanoute shot.The defeat was a rude awakening for Levante, who won promotion to the top flight after finishing third in the second division last season.Six other teams also won their opening matches, including champions Barcelona who snatched a dramatic 3-2 win at Celta Vigo on Monday thanks to a last-gasp strike from new signing Eidur Gudjohnsen.Barca’s arch-rivals Real Madrid made a disappointing start to the season with a 0-0 draw at home to Villarreal on Sunday. WINGER ODONKOR JOINS REAL BETIS Meanwhile, Germany’s World Cup winger David Odonkor has left Borussia Dortmund for Real Betis in a deal worth six million euros (US$7,69 million), the Bundesliga club announced on Monday.The 22-year-old signed a five-year contract with the Spanish team after passing a medical on Monday evening.Odonkor, who made his Bundesliga debut in 2002, was a surprise inclusion in Juergen Klinsmann’s squad for this year’s World Cup.He had still to make his full international debut when he received the call but wasted little time making a name for himself, coming off the bench in Germany’s second game to set up a last-gasp winner for Oliver Neuville against Poland.Odonkor has won six caps, all as a substitute.He is lightning fast and was once timed at 10.7 seconds over 100 metres at Dortmund.Odonkor will replace Spain winger Joaquin, who left Betis for Valencia for 25 million euros on Monday.Nampa-Reuters