Its factory in the taboo. After trailing 1-1 in 120 minutes, Sevilla beat Roma 1-4 on penalties on Wednesday night to win the Europa League for the seventh time in their history.
One of the most fascinating games this season promised and delivered. In the 35th minute, it was Paulo Dybala who took advantage of an assist from Gianluca Mancini to subdue Yassine Bounou and put Roma up 0-1, three minutes after a VAR check prevented them from receiving a penalty.
In the 55th minute, Mancini scored, but unfortunately it was the wrong goal, which gave the Spaniards a 1:1 tie at the Puskas Arena. In the 75th minute of the game, the referee whistled for a penalty after a foul on Ocampos in the area, but again VAR intervened and after a check it was decided that Sevilla did not deserve a penalty either.
Both teams continued to look for the winning goal but could not find it, and the game went to extra-time. There it looked like Roma and Sevilla were very tired and just wanted to go to penalties – and so it was.
In a duel from the white spot, Bono was Sevilla's hero, stopping two penalties and sealing the title for the Spaniards. The tragic hero was again Mancini from Rome, who missed one of these penalties. The decisive penalty was signed by none other than Argentina's Gonzalo Montiel, who was also the player who scored the decisive penalty in the last World Cup final.
Yassin Bounou. Seville's hero, photo: AFP
Montiel scores the decisive penalty. Who if not him, Photo: Getty Images
Roma's players are hurting. They missed out on a second consecutive European title, Photo: Getty Images
Sevilla celebrate the equaliser, Photo: AFP
Paulo Dybala with Roma's advantageous goal, Photo: AP
Sevilla's perfect record in the finals of the Europa League (and UEFA Cup) has been maintained, and thanks to tonight's win it is already 7 out of 7. On the other hand, Jose Mourinho's streak was broken, and after five consecutive European titles, he lost the final for the first time.
Both teams finished the season in domestic leagues in places that do not lead to the Champions League, and knew that winning the Europa League would give them the long-awaited ticket. In the end, the winner was Sevilla.
Jose Mourinho. Losing a European final for the first time,
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Two penalties were disallowed in the match, for both teams, Photo: AFP
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