Saturday 27 / July / 2024
Cologne: Sevilla lifted their sixth Europa League title after dispatching Inter Milan in the final on Friday in Cologne.
Luuk De Jong struck twice for the Spaniards in the first half before Diego Carlos, who conceded a penalty early on, tapped in the game-winning goal.
The title is the first in the coaching career of Julen Lopetegui, who is in his first season with the Seville-based club.
The triumph brings an end to a spectacular final sprint in the competition after a four-and-a-half month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Both Sevilla and Inter Milan were playing their fourth game in 15 days, with the final three of their games being played in Germany.
Half of firsts
Most of the excitement occurred in the first half, with each side scoring twice before the break.
Inter Milan took the early lead after Sevilla's Diego Carlos fouled Romelu Lukaku in the penalty area on the break. It was the third consecutive knockout game in which Carlos conceded a penalty. Lukaku converted from the spot for his 34th goal in all competitions this season, tying Ronaldo's mark for the most goals in a debut season for Inter.
But the Italian side's lead didn't last long thanks to de Jong, the Dutch striker heading in a Jesus Navas cross to equalize. Another de Jong header put Sevilla in the lead 20 minutes later, the 29-year-old becoming the first player to score two headers in a Europa League Final.
Sevilla's lead was short-lived as Diego Godin headed in a deep free kick from Marcelo Brozovic to level the score. The equaliser made the Uruguayan defender the sixth player to score in a Champions League and Europa League final — he netted a goal for Atletico Madrid in their 4-1 loss in the 2014 Champions League final to Real Madrid.
