Sevilla players celebrate with trophy after the UEFA Europa League final match against FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk at the Narodowy stadium in Warsaw. Sevilla won 2-3. (AFP)
Reuters/Warsaw
Sevilla retained their Europa League title to claim the trophy for a record fourth time with a 3-2 victory over plucky Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk thanks to Carlos Bacca’s double in an exciting final on Wednesday.
Colombia striker Bacca netted the winner with 17 minutes left to seal victory at Warsaw’s National Stadium after a pulsating first half in which four goals were scored as the teams went into the dressing rooms on level terms. It was an end-to-end battle for most of the match with Dnipro grabbing an early lead through Nikola Kalinic before Sevilla hit back with goals by Grzegorz Krychowiak and
Bacca.
When Dnipro captain Ruslan Rotan curled home a precise freekick to make it 2-2 just before the beak it looked like the Ukrainians, who were playing in their first European final, might go on to cause a stunning upset.
But Bacca grabbed his second goal late on to settle the encounter and secure a Champions League qualifying place which is handed to the winners for the first time. Predictions that this would be a cagey encounter with Dnipro deploying players behind the ball in the hope of frustrating Sevilla’s free-scoring forwards were swiftly confounded as both teams tore into each with ferocity from the start.
Within minutes of the kickoff Sevilla’s captain for the night Jose Antonio Reyes had a penalty appeal turned down when he was felled on the turn before Dnipro landed the first blow after seven minutes.
BACCA STRIKES
A chip forward found Kalinic and he headed the ball deftly into the path of Brazilian winger Matheus, whose precise cross was met by the Croatia target man on the charge to head low into the net past the sprawling dive of Sevilla keeper Sergio Rico.
That seemed to spark some life into the wounded Spaniards who tested their shooting range with blocked efforts from Vitolo and Reyes, before Krychowiak drew them level after 28 minutes. The Poland international raised the roof off the stadium in his home country when he received Bacca’s knockdown, took a touch to get the ball out of his feet and drove his finish through several Dnipro bodies into the net. Within three minutes Sevilla were ahead as Reyes set Bacca clear with a perfectly weighted through ball and the Colombian rounded keeper Denys Boyko before calmly slotting home.
That could have proved a devastating psychological blow to Dnipro, but the rugged Ukrainians are made of stern stuff and they equalised before the break through Rotan’s superb curling freekick that looped delicately over the wall and into the net.
The second half was a much nervier affair with Sevilla’s Stephane Mbia and Krychowiak failing to capitalise on half chances before Sevilla struck the decisive blow. Vitolo’s flicked pass found Bacca who managed to stay onside as he turned in the area and drilled the ball home.
“This is a very special moment - I would like to thank the city of Seville and the fans. We’ve all felt the responsibility of making them happy by working hard,” Sevilla coach Unai Emery said.
Delight in Spain with Sevilla triumph
Sevilla’s fourth triumph in the Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) in 10 seasons was greeted warmly by the Spanish media.
Their 3-2 defeat of Ukrainian side Dnipro in Wednesday’s final in Warsaw was front-page news in every Spanish newspaper.
“A Legendary Sevilla” was the headline in AS, while rival sports daily Marca opted for “Sevilla League,” in order to demonstrate Sevilla’s domination of the tournament in recent years.
“Rarely has a European football competition been dominated so throughly by one particular team,” commented Radio Marca.
“Sevilla have taken this competition very seriously, more seriously than have the English and German sides involved.”
Cadena SER claimed that “this shows the depth of quality in the Spanish league ... This is why we say it is the best league in the world.” The Spanish media singled out two Sevilla men for special praise: two-goal hero Carlos Bacca and hard-working coach Unai Emery. Emery came to the attention of European football last season by guiding Sevilla to an unlikely Europa League triumph, and now he has turned the same trick again.
According to media reports, several top clubs in Europa are now interested in signing him. AS claimed Thursday that Real Madrid - who sacked Carlo Ancelotti Monday - are now interested in Emery. The ebullient coach refused to reveal his plans after the 3-2 win. “I just want to enjoy this moment with the players and fans,” Emery said. “I will talk with the club (Sevilla) in a few days, then we will see what happens.” Two other Sevilla men might be on the move this summer: goalkeeper Sergio Rico and right wing-back Aleix Vidal, both of whom have just been called up by Spain. Barcelona are reportedly close to signing Vidal as a replacement for veteran Dani Alves, another player who emerged at Sevilla.
Sevilla’s latest Euro triumph means there will be five Spanish clubs in next season’s Champions League: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla.
