Wednesday 14 May 2014

Sevilla 0-0 Benfica (Sevilla win 4-2 on pens): Gameiro the hero in penalty shoot-out drama

The Eagles lost their second successive Europa League final after Rodrigo and Oscar Cardozo both missed from the spot

Kevin Gameiro Sevilla Benfica Europa League

Benfica's European curse continued after they were beaten 4-2 on penalties by Sevilla in the Europa League final after 120 minutes of football failed to separate the two sides in Turin.

The Spanish club won the competition in successive years in 2006 and 2007 and celebrated lifting the trophy for a third time in eight years following a tense shootout at Juventus Stadium.
Goalkeeper Beto saved penalties from Oscar Cardozo and Rodrigo in the shootout, before Kevin Gameiro smashed in the winning kick to spark scenes of jubilation amongst Sevilla players and supporters alike.

Defeat for Benfica continued their European curse, with the Portuguese giants - who were beaten by an injury-time winner from Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in last season's Europa League final - now having lost all eight of their previous continental finals.

Former coach Bela Guttman famously decreed in 1962 that they would wait 100 years for their next European title when he left the club in a row over pay - and that hoodoo was extended in Italy.
The result also ends Benfica's hopes of a quadruple, although a domestic treble is still up for grabs, with Sunday's Taca de Portugal final still to come against Rio Ave.

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