UPDATE 1-Soccer-Sevilla top Group H with win at Slavia

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Sevilla topped Champions League Group H on Wednesday after beating Slavia Prague 3-0 away with second-half goals from Luis Fabiano, Frederic Kanoute and Daniel Alves.

The win ensured Sevilla stayed ahead of Arsenal, who beat Steaua Bucharest 2-1 in London and also qualified for the knock-out stage.

Slavia secured third spot in the group with a draw against Steaua Bucharest two weeks ago and qualified for the UEFA Cup.

Both teams had chances in the first half, with the most promising attempts coming from Slavia striker Milan Ivana, who hit the post, and a header from Kanoute that went wide.

However, Sevilla shifted up a gear in the second half while Slavia's defensive errors began to mount up.

Substitute Luis Fabiano scored in the 66th minute from an Enzo Maresca pass through a disoriented Slavia defence.

Kanoute, who had two earlier shots saved by Slavia goalkeeper Martin Vaniak, made it 2-0 three minutes later from close range. Daniel Alves added the third, three minutes from time.

"In the first half, we were slower and unable to respond to pressure from Slavia," Sevilla manager Manuel Jimenez told reporters. "In the second, what dominated was our speed and rhythm."

Slavia coach Karel Jarolim blamed injury and poor defence for his side's loss.

"Our problem was that we were forced to make substitutions after the first half, and mainly we made huge mistakes in defence," he said.

"When Fabiano came on... we gave him way too much free room." (Reporting by Jan Korselt, editing by Alison Wildey)

Keywords: SOCCER CHAMPIONS/SLAVIA

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]