Coach Jose Mourinho failed in the European Cup final for the first time when Roma lost 1-4 to Sevilla on penalties in the final Europa League match.
Midfielders Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez both missed, causing Roma to lose 1-4 on penalties, lose the Europa League title and lose their place in the Champions League next season. Mourinho's teachers and students will have to regret when they missed many good opportunities in the main and extra half, when the score was 1-1.
Sevilla lifted the championship trophy after winning the Europa League final penalty shootout on the evening of May 31, 5 at Puskas Stadium in Budapest, Hungary. Image: Sevilla FC
And Sevilla showed the bravery of the most successful team in Europa League history, when they hit all four penalty kicks. They have won all seven finals played in this tournament, including the win over Roma.
The turning point of the penalty shootout came from Mancini - the player who had previously scored an own goal that made Roma equalized 1-1 in the second half. Mancini was given the captain's armband after Lorenzo Pellegrini left the field. He showed tension even when teammate Bryan Cristante just shot in the first kick. On Mancini's second turn, he shot wide into the center of the goal and hit goalkeeper Bono's leg.
Mancini's missed penalty kick.
In Roma's next turn, it was central defender Ibanez's turn to bounce off the post, and fate once again gave Gonzalo Montiel. The defender once scored the decisive penalty to help Argentina win the 2022 World Cup, this time he successfully did it to take Sevilla to a seventh Europa League title.
Goalkeeper Bono can also be considered a hero of Sevilla with three important saves. He was beaten only once in the 35th minute, from a tackle against striker Paulo Dybala. Ivan Rakitic lost the ball in midfield under pressure from Bryan Cristante. Midfielder Mancini took advantage of the time when the opponent was busy complaining to the referee, to poke a gap for Dybala to drop to the far corner to open the scoring for Roma.
Dybala's dangerous shot…
…help Roma open the scoring. Image: Reuters, AP
Dybala ran to hug the Roma medical worker, who was on his way to his seat. The team's reserve players also rushed into the field, and members of the coaching staff jumped up and hugged each other. The Puskas stadium stands as if exploded, flares flashed in the stands, smoke billowed under the field. The only Roma player who didn't celebrate was Mourinho, as he went back and waved his hand in a sign that the game was not over yet.
The first half was added seven minutes and during this time, the ball only rolled in the Roma field. Rakitic almost redeemed his mistake with a wide left-footed shot that hit the post and bounced off. Roma was somewhat fortunate when the ball did not hit goalkeeper Rui Patricio and bounced back into the net.
Roma continued to pour concrete in the second half but they soon conceded a goal from a counter kick. From the cross of Jesus Navas on the right of Sevilla, center-back Mancini in an effort to clear the ball, kicked straight into the net, leaving goalkeeper Patricio helpless. Mourinho must call on his students to calm down after this goal.
Mancini's own goal (No. 23). Image: EPA
Roma were encroached on in the second half but created even more dangerous chances, but goalkeeper Bono refused any opponent's efforts. In the 66th minute, striker Tammy Abraham shot close to the wall but hit the Sevilla goalkeeper. Also from a fixed situation, striker Andrea Belotti escaped to shoot in the face, but Bono used his hand to push it out.
Referee Anthony Taylor was also the focus when he repeatedly showed yellow cards to Roma players. He blew the penalty for Sevilla in the 75th minute, but then reviewed the situation and canceled the decision. A few minutes later, Nemanja Matic crossed the ball into the hand of the Sevilla defender in the penalty area, when his hand was not close to his body. But referee Taylor was determined not to give a penalty, and also gave a yellow card to warn a member of the Roma coaching staff. Mr. Taylor was criticized several times by Mourinho when this coach was still working in the Premier League.
In extra time, Sevilla had some strength and was forced back by Roma in the last minutes. In the last situation, center-back Chris Smalling hit the crossbar of Sevilla, causing him to hold his head in regret. A few minutes earlier, Mourinho almost clashed with the Sevilla players after Matic was on the field, and he was shown a yellow card.
Mourinho argued with Marco at the end of extra time. Image: Reuters
The representative of Spain once again affirmed its European position, when they won 18 consecutive finals against foreign opponents. Spanish teams are also unbeaten in 23 Champions League and Europa League finals since 2001. And this achievement will last until at least 2024.
Starting lineup
Sevilla: Bono, Jesus Navas (Montiel 95), Gudelj (Marcao 127), Bade, Alex Telles (Rekik 95), Fernando (Jordan 128), Rakitic, Ocampos, Torres (Lamela 46), Gil (Suso 46), En-Nesyri .
Roma: Rui Patricio, Ibanez, Mancini, Smalling, Spinazzola (Llorente 106), Cristante, Matic (Bove 120), Celik (Zalewski 91), Pellegrini (El Shaarawy 106), Dybala (Wijnaldum 68), Abraham (Belotti 75).
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