Sevilla retain title after penalty shoot-out
Adriano scored the first in a thrilling match with a lovely finish following a swift Sevilla break, but Alberto Riera levelled with a deflected shot. Andres Palop denied Riera with a fine save and the game turned when Espanyol’s Moises Hurtado saw red for a second booking on 68 minutes.
Sevilla’s pressure told when Kanoute turned in a Jesus Navas cross, but a goal from Jonatas sent it to penalties.
Having taken the game to a shoot-out, Espanyol’s efforts from 12 yards were abject. Palop saved from Luis Garcia, Jonatas and Marc Torrejon to take the headlines and keep Sevilla on course for a treble.
Palop’s heroics meant the Andalucians, who are third in La Liga and in the Copa del Rey final, also became the second team to retain the Uefa Cup, after Real Madrid in 1986, following their success over Middlesbrough 12 months ago.
When holding midfielder Moises received a second booking with a tackle from behind on substitute Aleksandr Kerzhakov it seemed only a matter of time before Sevilla would wrap up the win. The extent of the setback was highlighted by the fact that talismanic skipper Raul Tamudo was the man sacrificed as Espanyol, 12th in La Liga, shored up their defence.
Sevilla pressure finally told when former West Ham and Tottenham striker Kanoute stole in to poke a low Navas cross in at the near post.
Sevilla had chances to kill off the game but Iraizoz denied Puerta and Alves in one-on-one situations which proved costly when Jonatas struck from distance five minutes from the end of the extra period.
Iraizoz, David Garcia, Moises, Torrejon, Jarque, De la Pena (Jonatas 87), Zabaleta, Luis Garcia, Riera, Rufete (Pandiani 56), Tamudo (Lacruz 72).
Palop, Javi Navarro, Daniel, Dragutinovic, Adriano Correia (Renato 76), Poulsen, Puerta, Marti, Maresca (Jesus Navas 46), Kanoute, Luis Fabiano (Kerzhakov 64).
Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).
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