(Re-uploaded in 2024 due to a website reset in 2022, resulting in old posts being deleted)
Following Manchester United’s easy victory against Roma and Arsenal’s shocking defeat against Villarreal in the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League, Manchester United were the clear favourites going into the final. However, much to their dismay, their opponents scored first, with a goal from Gerard Moreno 29 minutes after kickoff. Unfortunately for the underdogs, Edinson Cavani equalised for United in the 55th minute.
After many missed chances by United, the game went into extra time. The result of the match was to be decided by a penalty shootout after both teams missed the few chances that they got to score in extra time. Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno sent the keeper the wrong way to score the first penalty. Juan Mata scored the first penalty for United. Dani Raba found the back of the net for Villarreal next, as did Alex Telles for their opponents. Paco Alcácer scored next. The players just did not miss as the penalty shootout continued. Even all the defenders scored their kicks from the spot.
Soon, it was the goalkeepers’ turn to shoot. Neither of them had managed to save a single penalty, but they had the chance to score their own, which is precisely what Villarreal’s Argentine goalkeeper, Gerónimo Rulli, did. There was immense pressure on David de Gea as he was to take the next penalty. Unfortunately for him and his team, his penalty was saved, and Villarreal won their first ever UEFA Europa League title.