Sevilla became the first side to win European football’s second-tier competition on four occasions with a pulsating 3-2 victory over Dnipro in Wednesday’s Europa League final.
The Andalusian club lifted the trophy in 2006 and 2007 – under its former guise as the Uefa Cup – and they have now made it back-to-back crowns for a second time, as Carlos Bacca scored twice to prove the hero.
Unai Emery’s side won the competition last season in a penalty shootout following a nervy 0-0 draw with Benfica, but this encounter proved a much more entertaining affair.
Dnipro, competing in their first European final, took an early lead through Nikola Kalinic, but they then found themselves behind when Sevilla struck twice in three minutes.
First, Grzegorz Krychowiak fired home after Dnipro had failed to deal with a ball into the box, and then Bacca produced a composed finish.
The Ukrainian side battled to level before the break, as captain Ruslan Rotan converted a free-kick.
However, it was Bacca who had the final say, latching onto Vitolo’s clever pass to rifle home with 17 minutes left to play and ensuring Sevilla claimed a piece of history – and a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Culled from Goal.com
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