Sevilla 1-1 (p4-1) Roma: Sevilla won the Europa League on Wednesday evening. After the penalty series, the Spaniards left the field as the winner. Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibañez were the bad guys. The series ended 4-1 for the Andalusians.
Specialist Sevilla wins seventh Europa League after penalties
Mourinho had bombed Sevilla as a favorite in the run-up to the final, but as so often turned out, it was a mental game by the Portuguese prize winner, who had already won five European cup finals prior to this Europa League final. On the other hand, Sevilla could rightfully call ‘Mr. Europa League’ with six final victories in twenty years for the Andalusians.
Halfway through the first half, Sevilla got into its game a bit better and AS Roma needed more and more fouls to stop the Spaniards. There were no great opportunities to note. When the fog cleared after a clash between Gudelj and Tammy Abraham, in which the England striker pretended to be hit in the head in the enemy’s box and continued after a VAR check, AS Roma took the lead in Budapest.
As if written in the stars, it was Dybala who opened the scoring. The Argentinian, where the question was whether he could be used at all during the final and it ultimately turned out to be a smokescreen from the Italians, remained icy calm after a splitting deep pass from Gianluca Mancini, only for Bonou. With his famous left leg, he left the Moroccan goalkeeper without a chance.
Before the break, Seville made a few appearances, but the Romans did not really panic. First, Ocampos headed a cross from Alex Telles via an Italian head wide, after which Fernando sought the goal too high from the subsequent corner. Sevilla insisted until half-time, but as we are used to from a Mourinho team, AS Roma did not budge.
Then Ivan Rakitic decided to try it in the last minute of the first half. From about 25 meters which shattered on the post.
Second half
In the second half, the game image was completely different. And AS Roma did not get rid of their own half from the start. Sevilla remained diligently looking for the equalizer and the Spaniards were paid for their work. They needed the help of the Romans with that, as Mancini worked a cross from Jesús Navas, the oldest outfield player since David Weir in 2008 on behalf of Rangers, behind his own goalkeeper Rui Patrício. It was Mourinho’s first goal against in a European final since Henrik Larsson scored for Celtic in the 2003 UEFA Cup final against FC Porto, where the Portuguese was then the manager.
Shortly after the equalizer, Abraham AS Roma was able to give a renewed lead. The striker found Bonou on his way, partly because he did not hit the ball full. After that, Georginio Wijnaldum came within the lines of the Italians. He replaced the tired goalscorer Dybala.
Fifteen minutes before the end, AS Roma was shocked when Ibañez seemed to say Ocampos down within the lines. Referee Anthony Taylor put the ball on the spot to the delight of the Spaniards, but the Englishman was whistled back by the VAR. In the exciting final phase, Andrea Belotti had a great opportunity to shoot AS Roma into the history books, but the Italian striker shot centimeters wide.
In the absolute final phase of regular playing time. Rui Patrício had to act once more with a shot from Suso. The Portuguese goalkeeper had a hard time with the Spaniard’s hard shot. Shortly afterwards, Taylor gave the signal that extra time had to be taken in Budapest. That was the case in the final of the Europa League for the third season in a row.
Extra time
A few minutes into extra time, Karim Rekik also made an appearance for Sevilla. He replaced Telles at left-back and held on solidly in the playing time he was given. Rick Karsdorp remained on the bench at AS Roma for the entire match. In extra time, the tension made up for a lot. As there were actually no opportunities to be seen in the Puskás Aréna. Until Chris Smalling hit the crossbar in the last minute. After 120 minutes, Taylor blew the whistle for the end of the game and penalties had to be taken.
Penalties
Gonzalo Montiel ultimately made the decision. The Argentinian made the winning penalty against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals at the World Cup in Qatar and now gave Sevilla the Europa League. At first the right back missed, but because Rui Patrício came off the line too early, the substitute was allowed one more time. His second bet went almost straight through the middle and the verdict was complete. Sevilla won its seventh Europa League and Mourinho lost a final of a European club tournament for the first time.
