Sevilla win Europa League for THIRD season in a row with Liverpool victory
Coke scored twice as Sevilla came from behind to beat Liverpool 3-1 in Basel to secure their third Europa League trophy in as many years.
The La Liga side have now won Europe’s second trophy five times in the last decade, having never won a European title prior to that.
It doesn’t bring the curtain down on Sevilla’s season, though, as they now have to get ready for Sunday’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.
“It’s a unique satisfaction. Now we have to enjoy it, knowing we have another final on Sunday. Sevilla and the team deserve this,” manager Unai Emery said after the game.
Sevilla secured their place in next season’s Champions League with the win, but the victory did not look on the cards in a first half dominated by the Premier League side.
However, Jurgen Klopp’s men only had one goal to show for their efforts in the opening 45 minutes, Daniel Sturridge curling in a fine effort with the outside of his boot to break the deadlock.
But for the linesman’s flag, it could have been two before the break. Dejan Lovren rose highest to head home, but Sturridge was blocking goalkeeper David Soria’s view and the goal was ruled out.
Within 20 second of the second half, Sevilla were level. Mariano was allowed far too much freedom down the right, galloping past former Rojiblanco man Alberto Moreno to create a tap in for Kevin Gameiro.
It rocked the Reds and they never seemed to recover as two-goal Coke, a full-back playing as a right midfielder, stole the limelight.
Vitolo and Ever Banega combined for the former Rayo Vallecano man to produce a fine finish to fire the Andalusian side into the lead, with his second goal arriving after some comical defending by Liverpool shortly after.
Klopp introduced Divick Origi and Christian Benteke in search of another European turnaround - as they had done against Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal in previous rounds - but it was not to be against a Sevilla side who have made this competition their own.
