Sevilla secure record-extending 7th Europa League title after beating Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma on penalties
Sevilla worked their magic once again in the Europa League final as they secured a record-extending seventh title after beating Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma 4-1 on penalties on Wednesday in Budapest.
Sevilla have been the undisputed kings when it comes to the competition and now they have won all the seven finals they have taken part in. Yassine Bonou was the hero of the shootout for the Spanish side as the keeper saved the penalties of Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez. Sevilla were able to convert all of their spotkicks to inflict a first defeat for Mourinho in a European competition.
The match was a tense and ill-tempered affair right from the start as Roma defended deep. The referee, Anthony Taylor, was forced to dish out 14 yellow cards in the match, which was the most in a Europa League game.
There was also close to 30 minutes of stoppage time during the match. Sevilla had the lionshare of possession during the match, but it was Roma who struck first in the contest. Paulo Dybala got on the end of a brilliant through ball from Mancini after Ivan Rakitic had lost possession. The Argentine made no mistake in slotting it home in the 35th minute.
However, Sevilla would regain their composure and started to dominate proceedings and were able to secure the equalizer in the 55th minute, through an own goal. Jesus Navas put in a dangerous cross into the box and Mancini was unable to control it and put it into his own net.