Sevilla triumphant on penalties in dramatic Europa League final

Sevilla have defeated Roma on penalties (4-1) after 1-1 in full-time in an action-packed, utterly dramatic Europa League final on Wednesday night.

Sevilla win the Europa League for the ??????ℎ time, beating Roma 4-1 on penalties.

Gonazlo Montiel, who scored the winning penalty for Argentina in the World Cup final, scored the decisive spot kick in Budapest.#ASRoma | #SevillaFC | #UEL | #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/7WeDykYO0A

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 31, 2023

The Romans were the team, which started the game better and they were the first to break the deadlock through Paolo Dybala in the 35th minute.

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However, the Spanish team wasn’t to give up that easily as they drew the score level in the opening minutes of the second half when the unfortunate Gianluca Mancini slotted the ball into his own net after a sharp cross from Jesus Navas.

From then onwards Sevilla started dictating the pace and were more persistent into finding a winner. But they were unable to break Roma’s defenses.

Into extra time, the pressure from the Spanish club mounted AS Roma failed to cross its own half for the majority of the time. But still Etxebarria’s men were unable to break the stalemate. Not only that but the Romans had a golden opportunity to win it in the 11th minute of added time in extra time, when a Chris Smalling’s header hit the woodwork.

In the penalties Sevilla were merciless as they slotted all of their kicks, while misses from Mancini and Roger Ibanez send the Romans to their doom.

The ecstatic team of Sevilla celebrates its 7th Europa League title (more than any other team by far) and keeps its 100% win-rate in finals. For Jose Mourinho and Roma, however, it is a bitter pill to swallow as they miss out to earn silverware for the first time in this competition.

It is also Mourinho’s first loss in club European final in six attempts in total.