After a penalty shootout (4-1), Sevilla FC won the seventh Europa League in its history on Wednesday against José Mourinho’s AS Roma, who had never lost a European final in his career.
Published on : 01/06/2023 – 00:38
Seven out of seven, a record: Sevilla FC won the seventh Europa League in its history on Wednesday May 31 in Budapest, on penalties (4-1) and at the end of the night against José Mourinho’s AS Roma ( 1-1 ap).
At the end of the end, the Sevillians managed to overcome the Roman wall and the famous low block of Jose Mourinho. Not completely, because it was not until the penalty shootout to send the Sevillians to seventh heaven, in the heart of the Hungarian night.
Moroccan Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, voted man of the match, repelled Gianluca Mancini’s second Roman attempt with his toes, then applied pressure and deflected with his fingertips that of Roger Ibanez, who touched the post.
The red and white club, very close to relegation to La Liga just two months ago, continues its crazy statistics: it therefore remains undefeated in the Europa League final with seven coronations since 2006, a record. In the mid-table in La Liga (11th), he is again on the roof of little Europe and in the world of European football.
Like this final, the Spaniards never gave up throughout the European campaign, as against Juve in the half. They ended up eliminating the Italians after extra time in the return match.
Third in their Champions League group, Sevilla FC successively took out PSV Eindhoven (3-0, 0-2), Fenerbahçe (2-0, 0-1), Manchester United (2-2, 3-0) and Juventus (1-1, 2-1) to reach this final. Despite the opening of the score for AS Roma (35th) by the Argentine striker Paulo Dybala, announced injured, the Sevillians continued their siege in front of the Roman surface.
First European final lost for Mourinho
Throughout the first period, the red and whites, pushed by part of the stadium, struggled to enter the last 30 Italian meters, blocked by the very compact defense. At the very end of the first half, Croatian Ivan Rakitic thought he equalized by unleashing a powerful shot, but which hit the right post.
In the second half, the Sevillians continued to dominate the Romans, who ended up flinching (55th). On the right, Jesus Navas, 37 and the oldest player in the final since 2008, crossed towards former Marseille player Lucas Ocampos who missed his recovery in front of goal. But the ball fell on the knee of Romain Mancini, who took his goalkeeper on the wrong foot.
Always dominating in the game and the duels, the Spaniards faced resistance from the Italians who avoided a penalty (77th) canceled by the VAR for a supposed contact on Ocampos.
On a free kick (83rd), the Romans were very close to passing in front: Lorenzo Pellegrini found Andrea Belotti on the left of the surface, but the attacker was countered by the Moroccan goalkeeper, author of a superb save. In an unbridled end to the match, the two teams did not really separate, racing towards extra time, where little happened.
José Mourinho had never lost a European final in his career. Sevilla have never lost a Europa League final in their history: no matter the outcome, the result was going to be historic.
“History does not lie and in the last 20 years this club has been the best in this competition”, warned on Tuesday the Spanish coach of Sevilla FC, José Luis Mendilibar, who arrived two months ago when the Blanquirrojos were close to relegation.
Once this C3 final is over, it will be time to talk about Jose Mourinho’s future in Rome: announced in several clubs, notably Paris Saint-Germain, Jose Mourinho assured Tuesday before the match that he would not had “no contact with other clubs” and was focused on the final. With this final lost, he seems even closer to the start.
With AFP
