Sevilla won the Europa League by beating Roma 5-2 on penalties (1-1 after extra time and regulation time) in the longest match in football history, which lasted 146 minutes due to continuous interruptions and prolonged injury time, even in extra time.
Decisive for the Giallorossi were the errors from the spot by Mancini (saved) and Ibanez (hit the post). Cristante scored. For Sevilla, Ocampos, Lamela, Rakitic, Montiel were infallible (whose penalty kick hit the post was rebounded by a VAR decision). Seventh victory for the Andalusians in the Europa League. For Mourinho, it is the first defeat in six finals played.
Silence and disappointment at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. A long round of applause accompanied the end of the penalty shootout, which decreed Sevilla as the winner of the Europa League. The lights were turned on in the stadium and the fans continued to wave flags and sing chants. Great disappointment among the thousands who had gathered for the final of the European football competition, while the first fans began to reach the exit. Roma lost on penalties after a 146-minute match, the longest in history.
A mockery for Mourinho who lines up Dybala and Spinazzola – the two players in doubt – from the 1st minute. The chance that opens the match is precisely the Italian winger with a sure shot in the area, which Bounou dives to save. At 35' Roma takes the lead. Cristante and Mancini recover the ball, the defender immediately passes vertically to Dybala who, one-on-one with Bounou, doesn't miss. Sevilla becomes dangerous at the end of the half.
In the 44th minute, following a corner kick, a blocking mechanism leads to Fernando's solo header but the ball ends up high. In the seven minutes of added time in the first half, the Spanish team crushes Roma in their penalty area and comes close to equalising with a missile from distance by Rakitic that hits the post. At half-time, Mendilibar sends out two old acquaintances of Italian football: Suso and Lamela (former Giallorossi).
However, it is an own goal that punishes Roma in the 55th minute: on a cross from the right by Navas, Mancini deposits it in his own net in an attempt to anticipate En-Nesyri. Roma comes close to scoring with a melee after a free kick with Abraham and Ibanez, but the ball doesn't go in. In the 68th minute Dybala's match ends, replaced by Wijnaldum. In the 77th minute the VAR is the protagonist and cancels a penalty for a clash in the area between Ibanez (who touches the ball) and Ocampos.
Shortly after, the English referee does not penalize Fernando for a handball in the area. And in the 83rd minute, after a free kick move, Belotti almost scores on the fly. Extra time begins and in the second half, in injury time, Smalling heads the ball against the crossbar. The verdict is therefore postponed to penalties. Mancini and Ibanez miss, Sevilla is infallible: Montiel, like in the World Cup in Qatar against Argentina (after a repeated penalty), sends his fans into triumph. For Mourinho, it is the first defeat in a final, for the Giallorossi fans it is a great disappointment, but Roma returns home with their heads held high.
Article published on 1 June 2023 - 00:14
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