Sevilla defeated SL Benfica on penalties in the UEFA Europa League after 120 minutes of football could not bring a goal.
It was the Portuguese side that had the better of the game, but could not score with any of their 20 efforts on goal, with only six of those on target.
Every single one of Benfica’s starting outfield players had at least one attempt on goal, but not even the usually impressive Nicolas Gaitan or strikers Rodrigo and Lima could break the deadlock.
Nor too could Sevilla playmaker Ivan Rakitic, or his livewire Colombian team-mate Carlos Bacca, and it was the Spanish side’s defensive efforts that won the game – and subsequently the trophy.
Alberto Moreno, Federico Fazio, Nicolas Pareja and Vitolo all made last ditch tackles, and though both sides had some contentious penalty decisions turned down in regular time, it was Sevilla’s decisiveness from 12 yards that brought them the trophy.
Benfica meanwhile were left to rue losing a second Europa League final in two years.
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