with the trophy after winning the UEFA Europa League final football
match against Inter Milan on August 21, 2020, in Cologne, western
Germany. Lars Baron / POOL / AFP
Sevilla won the Europa League for a sixth time as Diego
Carlos’s overhead kick deflected in off Romelu Lukaku 16 minutes
from time to beat Inter Milan 3-2 in a thrilling final in
Cologne.
Carlos and Lukaku’s evening had got off to a very different
start as the defender hauled the Belgian striker down and he
converted the resulting penalty to put Inter in front after just
five minutes.
Two Luuk De Jong headers turned the game around for Sevilla, but
Diego Godin quickly levelled in a four-goal first half.
However, Italy’s wait for a first European trophy in a decade,
and Inter’s nine-year trophy drought, goes on after Lukaku could
not stop Carlos’s spectacular strike on another famous Europa
League night for Sevilla.
Antonio Conte’s men will have a case that the Sevilla defender
should have been sent off after just three minutes as Lukaku
accelerated past him with ease on the counter-attack and was hauled
to the ground by the Brazilian, who conceded an early penalty for
the third consecutive game.
Carlos was only shown a yellow card, but Lukaku ensured Inter
were rewarded as he confidently slotted home his 34th goal of the
season to equal his idol Ronaldo’s record in his first season at
Inter, which ended in Inter’s last UEFA Cup win 1997/98.
coach Julen Lopetegui in the air to celebrate after the UEFA Europa
League final football match against Inter Milan on August 21, 2020,
in Cologne, western Germany. Friedemann Vogel / POOL /
AFP
De Jong has been far from that prolific in his first se ason in
Spain, but the Dutch international suddenly hit form at the right
time as he was handed a start by Julen Lopetegui after coming off
the bench to score the winner in the semi-final against Manchester
United.
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Inter did not learn from that goal against the English
giants.
Jesus Navas was again the provider and when De Jong got across
Godin, his diving header had too much power for Samir
Handanovic.
Tempers were also flaring in a pulsating first half with
frequent confrontations between the benches as they tried to
influence Dutch referee Danny Makkelie.
– Inter Chances –
Conte was booked as Inter appealed for a second penalty when
Nicolo Barella chipped ball into the arm of Carlos.
Sevilla upset the odds when they came from behind to beat
Liverpool for the fifth Europa League title four years ago and did
the same to another European giant when De Jong rose highest to
loop a brilliant header over Handanovic from Ever Banega’s
free-kick.
However, the lead only lasted three minutes as Godin made amends
with a bullet header of his own as the Uruguayan became the first
defender to score in a Champions League and Europa League
final.
Both sides had conceded just once in three games since arriving
in Germany and after four goals inside 36 minutes, Conte and
Lopetegui restored some semblance of order to their defences at the
break.
(C) celebrates after Sevilla scored the 3-2 goal during the UEFA
Europa League final football match against Inter Milan on August
21, 2020, in Cologne, western Germany. Martin Meissner / POOL /
AFP
Inter were made to rue wasting the better opportunities in the
second half as Navas and Carlos converged to block Roberto
Galiardini’s effort.
Lukaku then had the chance to cap his excellent first season in
Italy as he raced through on goal 25 minutes from time, but just as
in the semi-final victory over United, Sevilla goalkeeper Bono
produced a vital save when needed.
And like so many of their previous five Europa League final
victories, Sevilla conjured up a moment of magic allied with a
slice of fortune they needed to again take the trophy they call
their own back to southern Spain.
Inter failed to clear another Banega free-kick into the box and
Carlos more than made amends for some of his heavy-handed defending
with an overhead kick that deflected in off the unfortunate
Lukaku.
Conte threw on the former Premier League trio of Christian
Eriksen, Alexis Sanchez and Victor Moses in response and it was
Sanchez who had the chance to make himself a hero by taking the
game to extra time.
But the Chilean failed to get enough purchase on his shot among
a goalmouth scramble and Jules Kounde cleared off the line.
AFP
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