Sevilla FC beat Manchester United 2-1 in the Europa League final on Sunday night in Cologne, Germany.
Luc de Jong scored the winner for Sevilla in the 79th minute as they defeated United in the semifinals of the third consecutive tournament in Tivu this season after losing the FA Cup and Carabao Cup at the same stage.
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After the match, United defender Harry Maguire said: “It’s hard. The boys are devastated. We have created too many chances. The best team has lost. They punished us for missing opportunities. They didn’t give us many chances to be honest.
“We were accepted by two crosses. It wasn’t good enough. We worked our socks off and deserved to win and enter. We were down in the semifinals for the third time this year.”
Man United took the lead within 10 minutes of the penalty spot, when Bruno Fernandez delivered a well-taken penalty kick after Marcos Rashford fouled in the area.
After taking the lead in the 26th minute with a Cecilia setback, Suso Sergio met Reguillon’s inch perfect cross in the back post and scored David De Gea’s first 1-1 draw, which was the scoreline that prevailed for the rest of the first half.
Sevilla blocked the opening half of the second half from Man United, who was shot at the break, with goalkeeper Bono coming up with a save line to keep the score level.
Man United were made to pay for their wasted chances shortly before the 80-minute mark, with De Jong turning home the cross of Jesus Nawaz and not giving up to Sevilla.
United had 20 tries for the goal compared to Sevilla’s nine, but all the gritty gilt-edge opportunities came to bite them as Julen Lopetegui’s team stunned opponents.
“I think I’m embraced with joy. We know this side belongs today, and we’ve got such resilience against that kind of intensity,” said Lopetegui, whose team has now been unbeaten in 20 matches.
Meanwhile, Man United manager Ole Gunnar credited Sevilla’s bono to Soulsjer’s defeat.
“The keepers had a fantastic game. It’s disappointing that we didn’t score. We know we have players who have the quality of scoring, but it’s a game,” Solszare said.
“You can see how tired they are at the end. Tired legs, tired minds.”
Sevilla, aiming for the sixth Europa League trophy, is awaiting the outcome of Monday’s final four-match clash between Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk to see who will face them in the final on August 21.
The result will leave Manchester United without a major trophy for the third straight for the first time since the 1987–89 season, when Maguire was expected to arrive in time for the group.
He said: “It will happen soon. We want to win it as soon as possible. If we take another giant step towards the next season we will improve again. Tonight we got up and lost the best team.
“Maybe that inexperience will cost us – we shouldn’t accept that second goal.”
