Benfica’s long wait for another European trophy goes on as Sevilla secured a third Europa League title thanks to a 4-2 penalty shootout win in Turin on Wednesday night.
The Portuguese were the better side of an enthralling seesaw final that somehow remained goalless after 120 frantic minutes.
And the weight of 52 years of failure in continental finals told in the shootout as Oscar Cordozo — Benfica’s second-highest European scorer — and Rodrigo missed from the spot.
Sevilla coach Unai Emery looked happy to play for penalties and it was clear why as all four takers for the Spanish side scored, with French striker Kevin Gameiro stroking home the winner.
Benfica have now played eight finals since their 1962 European Cup win, without tasting victory.
Jose Antonio Reyes should have given Sevilla the lead as early as the sixth minute, but tried to let Vitolo’s pull-back slide across him and ran into a heavy challenge from Guilherme Siqueira.
It was not one way traffic though and Ezequiel Garay could have done better as Beto flapped at a Nicolas Gaitan free kick. The set-piece was the result of a second Sevilla foul on Miralem Sulejmani and the midfielder would be forced off shortly afterwards, clutching his right shoulder.
And although the excellent Ivan Rakitic was causing problems for Benfica with his clever probing, it was the Eagles who would head into half-time in the ascendancy.
Maxi Pereira, pushed into a more advanced role in the absence of Sulejmani, and Rodrigo both forced Beto into saves as Sevilla’s back line was caught napping.
Then as referee Felix Brych prepared to blow for interval, Gaitan found himself free in the penalty area only to stumble under a challenge — deemed fair by the official — from Federico Fazio.
It was the same story as the second half got under way, with Nicolas Pareja clearing in front of an empty net from Lima, before the Brazilian and Rodrigo both had shots blocked inside the area in a pulsating passage of play.
This was no ordinary final and the frenetic pace continued as Reyes fired wide at the other end before Carlos Bacca and Vitolo made a mess of a two-on-one for Sevilla.
Immediately, Benfica broke with Fazio producing a brilliant block to deny Lima deep in his own penalty area. And within 90 seconds, the marauding right-back Coke found Reyes but he could only shoot straight at Oblak from 15 yards.
The keeper required treatment after making the stop but the pause in play did little to halt the breathless pace as both sides continued to push for the opening goal.
As extra-time approached Lima almost caught Beto unaware before Garay headed wide from an acute angle and then hooked over the Sevilla bar. The additional 30 minutes could not separate the sides as Benfica, bar a glaring miss from Bacca, dominated without finding the net. Sevilla dug in for a shootout and were flawless from the spot.
Sport360°'s Martyn Thomas was invited to watch the Europa League final in Turin thanks to UEFA sponsors HTC.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Nicolas Pareja
Rakitic sparkled in patches, but the reason the Spaniards were still in the game at the end of extra time was their defenders. Pareja was a rock at the back alongside Federico Fazio, Coke and Alberto Moreno.
MATCH VERDICT
Both sides were committed to attack from the off and that it stayed 0-0 was largely due to some glaring misses and unbelievably committed defending. Benfica were the more threatening side but Sevilla deserved victory for their never-say-die attitude and ability to hold their nerve when it mattered most.
