Sports Desk, May 31 (EFE).- Sevilla defeated AS Roma on penalties Wednesday to hoist the Europa League trophy for a record-extending seventh time.
Just as he did for Argentina last December in the World Cup final against France, defender Gonzalo Montiel delivered the match winner, beating Rui Patricio with the re-take after the Roma goalkeeper was cited for encroachment on the first try.
While Sevilla are now seven-for-seven in the final of Europe’s second-tier club competition, Roma coach Jose Mourinho saw his perfect record in European finals shattered at Puskas Arena in Budapest.
In line with Mourinho’s defensive-minded approach, Roma were content to let Sevilla have most of the ball – they would end the contest with 67 percent – and make more attempts.
But Roma had the edge on the attack in the first half thanks to the return from injury of Paulo Dybala, the 2019-2020 most valuable player in Serie A.
The Argentine scored in the 34th minute and Ivan Rakitic’s potential equalizer in first-half stoppage time bounced off the post, leaving Roma up 1-0 at the break.
Sevilla started the second half with greater energy and Alex Telles fired just over the cross-bar in the 52nd minute and the Spanish side pulled level three minutes later on an own goal by Roma defender Gianluca Mancini.
Jesus Navas directed a cross to Lucas Ocampos at the far post and the ball took an unfortunate deflection off Mancini and into the net.
Tammy Abraham watched Sevilla keeper Bono snuff out his bid to reclaim the lead for Roma in the 67th minute.
Inside the final 15 minutes of regulation, the referee pointed to the spot after Ocampos went down in the box amid contact with Mancini, but VAR intervened and the penalty was withdrawn.
VAR came to Sevilla’s aid in the 80th minute, rejecting pleas for a penalty after the ball brushed Loic Bade’s arm, and the contest went to extra time.
The two additional periods passed with nothing resembling a scoring chance until the 12th minute of stoppage time, when a shot by Roma’s Chris Smalling hit the cross-bar.
Heading into the shootout, Roma were without usual penalty takers Dybala and Tammy Abraham, both subbed out in regulation.
Ocampos and Bryan Cristante each converted from the spot and Erik Lamela did likewise for Sevilla before Bono denied Mancini. Then Rakitic scored to give his team a 3-1 advantage.
Next up for Roma was Roger Ibañez, who watched Bono tip his effort wide, and Montiel stepped to the spot ready to make history, only for Patricio to make the stop.
Yet again, VAR intervened and the penalty was ordered re-taken because Patricio stepped off his line too early. This time, Montiel buried it.
EFE
/dr
