- FC Sevilla wins the Europa League for the 7th time.
- In the final at the Puskas Arena, the Andalusians beat AS Roma 4-1 in penalty shoot-out, after 90 and 120 minutes it was 1-1.
- Paulo Dybala puts the “Giallorossi” in the lead, and an own goal brings Sevilla back into the game.
It was long past midnight when Gonzalo Montiel started to celebrate in the Puskas Arena in Budapest. He was also the 4th Sevilla player to score in the penalty shoot-out, while Roma’s Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez missed.
In the end it was 4-1, and more importantly, thanks to better nerves, “Los Nervionenses” won the Europa League for the 7th time in the 7th final. For his part, Roma coach José Mourinho suffered his first defeat in his 6th European final.
Penalty demands here and there
Thrilling 90 minutes and a tough extra time had ended in a performance-oriented 1:1. A wild final phase of regular time was launched with a controversial scene in the penalty area:
- 76 minutes: Anthony Taylor points to the penalty spot. Roma defender Ibanez cleared Lucas Ocampos but touched both the ball and the opponent’s leg. The VAR intervenes, Taylor takes the penalty kick back after video consultation.
- 5 minutes later it burns in the Seville sixteen. A finish from Nemanja Matic lands on Fernando’s arm. This time, to the annoyance of the «Giallorossi», Taylor didn’t whistle. Another controversial decision.
In search of the lucky punch, Andrea Belotti could have made herself immortal in the eternal city. But the hapless Roma center forward (4 goals in 44 games) failed from close range. Sevilla missed the winning goal in the last 6 minutes of added time after a mistake by keeper Rui Patricio. In the 131st minute (!) of extra time, a header from Rome’s Chris Smalling hit the crossbar, and then it went to a penalty shoot-out.
The Dybala Bluff
The fact that there was a lot at stake in the Puskas Arena could hardly conceal a nervous initial phase. Many fouls hampered the flow of the game, which was initially characterized by toughness. The exception was Leonardo Spinazzola’s shot: The Roman came to the ball free-standing in the penalty area, but was unable to endanger Sevilla keeper Yassine Bono with his shot that was too central.
Things got hot after half an hour: Roma were denied a possible penalty (Nemanja Gudelji hit Tammy Abraham’s head with his foot), then Paulo Dybala struck. Sent deep down by Mancini, he pushed the ball in to make it 1-0 (35′). Dybala of all people: Mourinho had announced the day before that the long-term injured Argentine could be used “for 20 minutes”. Surprisingly, he figured in the starting line-up and immediately justified the nomination.
Rakitic on the post, Mancini in his own goal
Just before the break, the previously pale Andalusians came close to equalizing. Fernando headed a corner kick from the omnipresent Ivan Rakitic over the goal (44′). In the 6th minute of added time, the Swiss-Croat almost made it 1-1 himself. His attempt at distance hit the post.
It became clear after 55 minutes that Mourinho’s team would not be able to win in the final of the Conference League, as they did last year: the heavily beleaguered Mancini extended a cross into his own goal to make it 1-1. It was a harbinger that the evening would end very unhappily for the Italian.