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UEFA Europa League final saw AS Roma face off against Sevilla FC in a thrilling encounter that captivated fans around the world. Both teams had their own reasons for wanting to secure the coveted trophy, but only one could emerge victorious. The match marked an unprecedented clash of records, as Sevilla aimed to maintain their impeccable final streak, while legendary manager Jose Mourinho sought to extend his unbeaten run in European competition finals. In a nerve-wracking contest that went down to the wire, it was Sevilla who prevailed, ending Mourinho’s remarkable record and solidifying their status as the kings of the Europa League.
Match Report
Sevilla FC entered the final with an unrivaled reputation in the Europa League. This Spanish powerhouse had won the tournament six out of six times, an unprecedented feat that showcased their dominance in this European competition.
On the other hand, AS Roma was led by the legendary manager, Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese manager had a storied career, boasting an impressive record in European finals. Throughout his managerial journey, Mourinho had never tasted defeat in any of his previous five finals in European competitions.
However, as the final kicked off, both teams showcased their determination. The two sides started playing attacking football from the very first minute. But it was Italian side AS Roma who broke the deadlock first. Argentine world cup winner Paulo Dybala, who came from an injury, put his team ahead of Sevilla in the 34th minute. He scored a stunning goal for Roma with a clinical pass from Mancini. After that, Sevilla tried hard but failed to score against Mourinho’s side.
Coming back from the break, Sevilla FC didn’t take much time to find the equalizer. In the 55th minute, Sevilla leveled the scoreline with an own-goal from Roma’s defender Gianluca Mancini. Instead of clearing off the ball, he put the ball into his own net.
The two teams failed to score more in the remaining minutes. Therefore, the match went to the extra time. But both sides couldn’t score more in the additional 30 minutes. As a result, the match went into a tie-breaker, where Sevilla scored from all first four shots. Besides, AS Roma missed two shots, which secured the trophy for Sevilla FC.
Reaction
Jose Mendilibar is the first manager to beat Jose Mourinho in the final of European competitions. He shared his thought after the final. “When they scored against us, you think that it will be very difficult to score against them. The equaliser came quickly in the second half and gave us the strength to continue in the fight to win the game,” Mendilibar said.
The manager added, “I’m happy to be here, to have won for the club, which was having a hard time when we got here. We have done something good that can have repercussions for the good of the club.”
