Sevilla defeated Roma in the Europa League final on penalties.
Sevilla claimed a record-extending seventh Europa League title as they beat Roma on penalties at a raucous Puskas Arena in Budapest.
After a 1-1 draw and a missed penalty attempt by Roma’s Roger Ibanez and Gianluca Mancini, Gonzalo Montiel, who had scored the winning penalty for Argentina in the World Cup final against France, duplicated the feat for the Spanish team.
During the opening frame, Montiel’s international teammate Paulo Dybala deservedly gave Roma the lead. Dybala raced onto Italy defender Mancini’s sharp ball and skillfully guided a low shot past Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and into the bottom right corner.
However, the Serie A team lost control of a tense match that saw 14 players and coaches, including manager Jose Mourinho, receive bookings. Leonardo Spinazzola also tested Bounou before the break.
Ten minutes after the break, Sevilla, who had been pressing for an equalizer, pulled even when Jesus Navas’ cross from the right deflected off the unfortunate Mancini and into his own net.
Despite Tammy Abraham and Ibanez’s missed opportunities from close range and Andrea Belotti’s mishit from Lorenzo Pellegrini’s deft free kick, Roma had the better chances to win the game in regulation.
Sevilla appeared to have been given a perfect opportunity to score after Lucas Ocampos was brought down by Ibanez’s challenge, but English referee Anthony Taylor overruled his initial judgment to give a penalty after consulting with the video assistant referee.
And that created a tense extra 30 minutes, with Chris Smalling hitting the Sevilla crossbar 11 minutes into added time before the exciting conclusion.
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