In Budapest, Sevilla started their legend in the Europa League. Against Roma, the Andalusian team won their seventh title in seven finals. indestructible It was in penalties, in agony, in an endless match that lasted 147 minutes if added time is included. It was against Mourinho’s Roma. The prize was taken by the humble MendilÃbar, champion in Preferent, Third, Second B and Second A. And now champion of a continental title. In the penalty shootout, Mancini failed (Bono stopped) and Ibañez (on the post) and Montiel, as in the World Cup final with Argentina, converted the final one. Although this time with suspense, since he had stopped the goalkeeper and the referee decided that it had to be repeated because he had advanced.
Mourinho had speculated the day before about the ankle problems of Paulo Dybala, his most qualified footballer. Almost no one believed him, but it was enough for him. The Portuguese, a first class player, wanted to hide his cards until the end but at the time of truth he placed Dybala as the starter. With the ball in play, it lasted until the 67th minute on the field. Enough time for the Argentine to become an artist among a forest of snow. Those of his team and those of Sevilla. Because the first half hour of the final was more of a dogfight than a football match. Up to five interruptions were due to collisions of heads or blows to the face.
It was already going well for Rome, which moved like a fish in muddy water, between protests. But, in honor of the truth, the Roman ensemble also demonstrated in the staging that they had the clearest ideas. Rustic but clear. Balls up for Abraham to clear and for Dybala to appear from the second line. In one of these actions Spinazzola tested the reflexes of Bono, who was awake. But it served as a warning of what was to come. A loose ball by Rakitic, who called for a foul, a quick through ball from Mancini and a great Dybala cross into the net.
Rome was advancing. Very bad news for Sevilla. Those from MendilÃbar had to row against the current against a rough and compact adversary. But at least in the final stretch until the break, the Andalusian team regained charm and offensive aggression.
In the added time, Rakitic was inches away from equalizing when he connected a great cocoa from the front with his left leg, which was stamped on the base of the post. There was still a long way to go and no one could bury Sevilla with their precedents in the Europa League finals. MendilÃbar wasted no time and made two changes. Suso and Lamela appeared. The Basque coach was looking for more determination and found it through the fast track.
That Sevilla was another could be verified very soon. He rolled over with great desire. And it didn’t take long to equalize the score. He crossed the incombustible Navas from the right and Mancini, under pressure from En-Nesyri, sent the ball into his own goal.
Sevilla was already entering the game, which they say never gives up, let alone in their fetish competition. He didn’t do it against Manchester United and Juventus, and he didn’t plan to do it against Mourinho’s team, who had no choice then to replace Dybala. He limped away.
The game at this stage had a Sevillista flavor and Roma only threatened with set pieces, as in two saves from Bono after a shot from Abraham and Belotti.
In the other area, the Italian team was saved because the referee annulled, through the VAR, a penalty awarded by Ibañez to Ocampos. The Romanist had touched the ball and the correction was successful.
Sevilla continued to attack and just before extra time Suso and Fernando were close to victory. In extra time, with the tension building in crescendo, permanent interruptions and Mourinho protesting everything, the scoreboard did not move. They decided the penalties.
