World Soccer - UK (2020-10)

They took an early lead over Sevilla,
conceded two headed goals, struck back
shortly before the interval then lost, most
painfully, to a Lukaku own goal.
TheNerazzurri, despite having rested
for one day fewer, had started as narrow
favourites under Antonio Conte, whose
passion earned him one of the game’s
six yellow cards in a feisty final.
The opening minutes saw Dutch
referee Danny Makkelie wave away
Sevilla claims that Danilo D’Ambrosio
should have been sent off for baulking
Ocampos. Inter capitalised immediately

• Lukaku pulled down on the break by
  Diego Carlos before rising to his feet to
  convert the fifth-minute penalty and put
  them ahead.
  Diego Carlos had been fortunate to
  escape a red card. Not that Inter cared
  as they celebrated Lukaku’s 34th goal
  of the season, thus matching the tally of
  Brazilian superstar Ronaldo when Inter
  won this competition in1997-98. It
  seemed that the omens were good
  for the Italian side.
  But Sevilla’s record of 20 games
  unbeaten since February was not in
  danger for long. In the12th minute
  veteran wing-backJesus Navas flighted
  a cross to the near post where Luuk
  deJong dived in to head home.
  The Dutchman had been a
  goalscoring substitute in Sevilla’s
  semi-final defeat of Manchester United
  and fully justified coachJulen Lopetegui’s
  decision to start him this time.
  Play ebbed and flowed in both
  directions before Sevilla took the lead
  in the 33rd minute. DeJong was the
  scorer again with another header, this
  time converting a free kick from former
  Inter playmaker Ever Banega. Two more
  minutes and it was Inter’s turn to
  equalise. Sevilla switched off at the
  back as veteran Uruguay centre-back
  Diego Godin headed home Marcelo
  Brozovic’s free kick.
  The match turned on a nine-minute
  spell midway through the second half.
  First, Lukaku broke clear only for Sevilla
  keeper Bono to block his shot. The
  significance of that save was enhanced
  in the 74th minute. Inter failed to clear a
  free kick, and Diego Carlos’ bicycle kick
  was diverted into the net by Lukaku.
  Conte quickly introduced Victor

SEVILLA 3

(Luuk De Jong12, 33, Romelu Lukaku OG 74)

INTERNAZIONALE 2

(Romelu Lukaku 5 pen, Diego Godin 35)

HT: 0-0 Ref: Danny Makkelie

2020 EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL

August 21 – Cologne, RheinEnergieSTADION

WHAT THEY

SAID

JULEN LOPETEGUI

(Sevilla coach)

“Thisisveryspecial.Forus,forme,

forthefans,itisveryspecial.Wehave

a happy ending. Also, this victory is for

Jose Antonio Reyes, Antonio Puerta and

all of those who are no longer with us.

We conceded three penalties in the last

three matches in the first five minutes

but our team never surrenders.”

LUUK DE JONG

(Sevilla – Man of the Match)

“The coach told me I was starting only

in the morning. I told him I am always

ready when he needs me and it worked

really well. To score two goals and win

is incredible. We had such tough games

all tournament but we played so well

as a team. We are like a family, we

worked together. It didn’t matter

who came in.”

ANTONIO CONTE

(Inter coach)

“Of course, it’s a big disappointment,

to come to a big final and then to

lose, even to a good opponent. What

happens next for Inter, we will discuss

sensibly. It’s only right that we analyse

the entire season, look at everything in

acalmway,andtrytoplanthefuture

of Inter, whether it’s with or without me.

I will always be grateful for having the

chance to spend a great year at Inter,

butontheotherhanditwasalso

very tough.”

ROMELU LUKAKU

(Internazionale – goalscorer)

“What happened in the final upset

me but I will fight back. I never had the

easy way in life and this experience will

make me stronger. One thing for sure is

that this experience will also make us

better as a team. There’s unity and

we’re heading the right direction.”

Moses, Alexis Sanchez and Christian

Eriksen to try to rescue the game, and

the attacking tactic appeared to pay off as

Sanchez stabbed the ball goalwards, until

centre-backJules Kounde stretched out a

long leg to hack off the line.

That clearance ensured Sevilla’s record

of not conceding a second-half goal in

13 games and duly delivered the Europa

League trophy for a record sixth time.

It also completed the rehabilitation

of 53-year-old Lopetegui.

Two years ago the former national

youth coach

endured the

humiliation of being

sacked within five

months, either side

of the World Cup

finals in Russia,

first by Spain and

then Real Madrid. Until this moment

he had never won a major senior trophy

as a coach.

Conte’s Inter were second best on the

night but consolation was that they, like

Sevilla, will enter the Champions League

in the new season. The Europa League

will then, barring a second wave of

COVID-19, resume its standard format

and finale. The Europa League will

slip back into the Champions

League’s long shadow.

Keir Radnedge

2020 EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL

EUROPA LEAGUE REVIEW

Winner...Diego Carlos sends the ball goalwards

Header...DeJong

equalises for Sevilla

Conte’s passion earned

him one of the game’s

six yellow cards in a

feisty final

Hand no

D’Ambrosio

(Moses 78)

aku

odin

Barella(Ca reva

Minez

nchez 78)

Young

eVrij

Brozovic

Bastoni

Gagliardini

(Eriksen 78)

ono

Navas

Kou e

Jordan

Diego arlos

(Gud 86)

Banega

Reguilon

De J ng

(En-Nes ri 85

ernando

Suso

(Vazquez 78

Ocampos

(Munir

Coach: Lopetegui Coach: Conte