KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTING: Sevilla defeated Roma 4-1 on penalties after ending up locked at 1-1 after extra time in a grimly intense UEFA Europa League Final in the Puskas Arena in Budapest.

The winning kick, by Gonzalo Montiel, was a retake after his first effort had been saved by keeper Rui Patricio. VAR Stuart Attwell spotted that the keeper had stepped off his line and advised referee Anthony Taylor to give Montiel a second chance from which he made no mistake.

Montiel is international football’s penalty king – he was the man who struck Argentina’s decisive spotkick in their World Cup Final defeat of France in Qatar last December.

Victory saw Sevilla clinch a record-extending seventh Europa trophy at the end of a topsy-turvy season which had seen them relegated out of the Champions League last autumn and sack coach Julen Lopetegui before struggling away from the lower reaches of LaLiga.

Mourinho misery

Defeat for Roma meant coach Jose Mourinho failed in pursuit of a record sixth personal European trophy and lost his 100pc record in continental finals. All he ended up with was a first loser’s medal and a yellow card for his touchline histrionics in the closing stages.

Mourinho will be bitterly disappointed because his men had commanded the first half in which Paolo Dybala provided the lead. Roma, Conference League winners last year, held their shape, defended effectively and moved forward with pace and penetration. Ultimately, however, they ran out of legs as Sevilla chased them down in the subsequent 75 minutes.

Coach José Luis Mendilibar watched impassively as his team levelled with an own goal from Gianluca Mancini then role their luck in the last seconds of extra time when a Chris Smalling header bounced off the crossbar.

Roma had seized the initial momentum. Leonardo Spinazzola wasted a glorious opening in the 11th minute, shooting weakly at keeper Bono but Dybala made no mistake 10 minutes later.

The Argentinian, who had not played for six weeks and had been doubtful up until the last minute, arrowed onto a superb through pass from Mancini to shoot wide of the diving Bono’s left hand.

Roma appeared content to sit on the lead in the closing stages of the half, allowing Sevilla finally to stage a series of attacking raids. They were out of luck, however, in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Ivan Rakitic saw his left-foot drive from 25 metres strike the inside of Rui Patricio’s left-hand post.

Sevilla brought on Suso and Erik Lamela after the break, stepped up the attacking action and were properly rewarded with an equaliser. Veteran Jesus Navas wriggled down the right wing and crossed to the near post where Mancini, under pressure from Lucas Ocampos, jabbed the ball into his own net.

This was only the second goal a Mourinho team had ever conceded in a European final with the first having been scored by Celtic’s Henrik Larsson in their 2003 defeat by Porto.

Penalty claim

Roma failed to capitalise on a goalmouth scramble but this was a rare incursion into Spanish territory.

Sevilla thought they had a penalty in the 75th minute when Ocampos lost his balance and tumbled on galloping into the box. Initially referee Taylor awarded a spotkick but then changed his mind after being advised by VAR Attwell to view the pitchside screen.

Andrea Belotti pulled a shot narrowly wide after a Roma free kick but the attacking momentum had been all with Sevilla as the final ran into extra time. Roma defender Smalling then headed against the bar in stoppage time before referee Taylor blew his final whistle . . . and Sevilla not only claimed the trophy but clinched their place back in next season’s Champions League.

Mourinho did not wait for the presentations before heading down the tunnel amid renewed speculation about whether he may take up a new challenge with Paris Saint-Germain.

The shootout

Penalties (Sevilla first): Ocampos 1-0, Cristante 1-1; Lamela 2-1, Mancini saved 2-1; Rakitic 3-1, Ibanez hit post 3-1; Montiel 4-1 (retake).

The awards

esús Navas named 2022/23 UEFA Europa League Player of the Season

UEFA’s Technical Observer panel has named Sevilla FC’s Jesús Navas as the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League Player of the Season.

UEFA.com: https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0282-182d126f80e8-eece8c3aab06-1000–jesus-navas-named-2022-23-uefa-europa-league-player-of-the-s/

Florian Wirtz named 2022/23 UEFA Europa League Young Player of the Season

UEFA’s Technical Observer panel has named Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz as the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League Young Player of the Season.

UEFA.com: https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0282-182d1283e6f7-c924b47ad4e6-1000–florian-wirtz-named-2022-23-uefa-europa-league-young-playe/

2022/23 UEFA Europa League Team of the Season

UEFA’s Technical Observer panel has selected its 2022/23 UEFA Europa League Team of the Season.

UEFA.com: https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0282-182d1295f910-056c87a02b5e-1000–2022-23-uefa-europa-league-team-of-the-season/

2022/23 UEFA Europa League Goal of the Season : Pedro Gonçalves tops Technical Observer selection 

The top ten goals of the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League campaign have been selected by UEFA’s Technical Observer panel, with Sporting Clube de Portugal player Pedro Gonçalves’s finish against Arsenal FC earning the honour of Goal of the Season.

UEFA.com: https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0282-182d1564e6d0-5dc5889e20ce-1000–2022-23-uefa-europa-league-goal-of-the-season-pedro-goncalve/

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