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