Sevilla wins 7th Europa League in 17 years, ending Mourinho's perfect record.

DhakaTribune || Shining BD

Published: 6/1/2023 5:49:04 AM
Sevilla players celebrate with the Europa League trophy after winning Wednesday's final against Roma in Budapest AFP

Sevilla players celebrate with the Europa League trophy after winning Wednesday's final against Roma in Budapest AFP

Sevilla defeated Roma 4-1 on penalties on Wednesday to win the Europa League after a 1-1 draw, giving them seven victories in seven finals overall in Europe's second-tier competition.

The Roma defender Gianluca Mancini's own goal gave the Spanish team a point in the second half after Paulo Dybala had given Hungary the lead in the first half.

At Puskas Arena, penalties were used to decide the game after extra time failed to separate the teams.

In the 2022 World Cup final, Gonzalo Montiel converted the go-ahead penalty kick after Roma's Mancini and Roger Ibanez had missed their respective attempts.

Paulo Dybala had earlier given Jose Mourinho's Roma the lead in the 35th minute, but a resurgent Sevilla tied the score 10 minutes into the second half on a Mancini own goal.

Before the game began, the crowd created a lively atmosphere, but the first few minutes of play did not match the color of the stands.

After some nice build-up play involving Dybala and Zeki Celik, the Italian team had the first opportunity of the game, but Leonardo Spinazzola shot straight at Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

After the half-hour mark, Roma appealed for a penalty after Sevilla defender Nemanja Gudelj's high boot struck Roma forward Tammy Abraham in the head as the latter was clearing the ball, but the video assistant referee determined there was no penalty.

However, they were ahead after a short while.

Dybala calmly slid his shot past Bounou after slipping past two defenders and latching onto Mancini's through ball from the center circle.

Deep into the seven minutes of added time, Sevilla, who was now playing more effectively, came agonizingly close to tying the score when Ivan Rakitic fired a fierce left-footed shot from distance that deflected off an upright.

At halftime, Sevilla manager Jose Luis Mendilibar substituted forwards Suso and Erik Lamela for Oliver Torres and Bryan Gil, and the Spanish team came out firing in the second half.

After ten minutes, Mancini bundled a close-range Jesus Navas cross into his own goal to tie the score.

Midway through the second half, Roma appeared destined to retake the lead against the grain of the game, but the Sevilla defense somehow managed to scramble the ball away after several close-range attempts.

After starting a game for the first time since mid-April, Dybala was taken off and replaced by midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.

With 15 minutes remaining, referee Anthony Taylor determined that Ibanez had fouled Lucas Ocampos, but VAR reversed his decision. Sevilla believed they should have been given a penalty.

After captain Lorenzo Pellegrini found him with a deftly dinked free-kick in the 83rd minute, the Italian team should have taken the lead, but substitute Andrea Belotti failed to keep his shot on target with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Despite tempers between the two benches erupting during extra time, Roma defender Chris Smalling came within milliseconds of snatching the victory when his looping header from a corner struck the woodwork.

When Mancini's penalty was saved and Ibanez hit the post, Sevilla had the advantage and appeared to be winning the shootout.

However, there was still drama to be had.

Rui Patricio blocked Montiel's shot, but after the goalkeeper encroached on the ball, the kick had to be retaken, and this time the Argentine was perfect.
 

Shining BD