Sevilla wins Europa League after penalty shootout against Roma

Hottest Offer at Trusted Online Gaming Platform in Malaysia

Gonzalo Montiel scored the game-winning penalty for Sevilla in the Europa League final on Wednesday, defeating Jose Mourinho’s Roma five months after converting the winning penalty in the World Cup final.

Sevilla won the competition’s for the seventh time as a result.

After the game ended 1-1 after extra time in Budapest, the Argentina international sent Roma goalkeeper Rui Patrcio the wrong way with his retaken penalty to seal a 4-1 victory in the shootout. Mourinho wanted to protect his record of never losing a final in a European competition.

“I’ve won five finals and I lost this one, but I’m coming back home proud again,” Mourinho said to Sky Sport Italy. “The boys gave everything.”

Roma had two chances to score from the penalty spot against Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, but Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez both missed. After Patrcio was deemed to have stepped off his line, Montiel was given a second chance after missing his first shot.

The team also won the competition in 2006, 2007, ’14, ’15, ’16, and ’20, securing a spot in next season’s Champions League. Sevilla has yet to lose a final it has played in either the Europa League or its predecessor, the UEFA Cup.

It had appeared like Sevilla’s season would be remembered for being near to the Spanish league’s relegation zone and already out of the Champions League at one point. But it was evidently not yet over.

When José Luis Mendilibar, a new coach, was hired, things immediately improved.

“I’m happy to be here, to have won for the club, which was having a hard time when we got here,” Mendilibar said. “We have done something good that can have repercussions for the good of the club.”

Prior to the championship game, Mourinho had won more European championships than Mendilibar had played in overall competition games. Since joining Sevilla just two months ago, the 62-year-old Mendilibar’s career is at its pinnacle.

Mourinho remained composed and praised the Spanish team for winning while Sevilla players danced around the field.

“We lost a game but not dignity. I’ve never gone home prouder than today,” Mourinho said. “Great match, great final. Intense, vibrant.”

Mourinho delivered his runners-up medal to a young supporter after receiving it.

Roma took the lead at Puskás Aréna in the 35th minute thanks to Paulo Dybala. Dybala received a through pass from Mancini and beat Bounou with a low left-foot shot to score. The Argentine forward’s ankle injury had healed in time for him to be cleared to play in the championship game.

It was Dybala’s 17th goal of the year and fifth in the Europa League.

Ivan Rakitic came close to tying the score during first-half stoppage time with a low shot from 20 yards that deflected over the post. Sevilla was only just beginning to gain control of the game.

At the beginning of the second half, Mendilibar substituted midfielder Suso and forward Erik Lamela, a former Roma player, to energize his team.

Ten minutes into the second half, Mancini’s own goal for Sevilla equalized the score while under pressure from Youssef En-Nesyri. A pass from the right by captain Jess Navas provided the opening for the goal.

The 37-year-old veteran Navas was a member of Sevilla’s 2006 Europa League champion squad.

“When they scored against us, you think that it will be very difficult to score against them,” Mendilibar said. “”The equalizer came quickly in the second half and gave us the strength to continue in the fight to win the game.”

Following a free kick by Lorenzo Pellegrini seven minutes from time, substitute Andrea Belotti was unable to defeat Bounou in a one-on-one. Patrcio made a last-second save on a long-range shot from Suso.

Although Sevilla had the advantage in extra time, they were unable to generate a clear goal opportunity. At the very last moment, Roma defender Chris Smalling headed the ball onto the crossbar.

Mendilibar took over as Sevilla’s third coach this year in March after Jorge Sampaoli, the former Argentina coach, was fired with the team only two points above the La Liga drop zone. His team is currently one point off seventh place heading into this weekend’s championship round after losing just two of its last 11 league games.

Next Matches: