Sevilla won their third Europa League title on a trot as the Spanish side defeated Liverpool 3-1 in Basel on Wednesday. Sevilla have booked their Champions League spot for next season with the title win as well. It was Sevilla's spirited performance in the second half, which helped them emerge triumphant.
Liverpool might have started as a better team in the first 20 minutes, with some decent chances to open their goal account, but failed to find the back of the net. After some continuous pressure from the Liverpool players, they were finally able to break the deadlock in the 35th minute as Daniel Sturridge scored a brilliant goal with his left foot.
Reds were an ever more confident unit after the goal and were looking to double the lead before the first half culminated, and they failed. But they must have been disappointed with some of the hand ball decisions, which did not go their way, as it could have led to a penalty, increasing their chances of taking a healthy lead.
Sevilla, who were outplayed in the first 45 minutes, were desperate to equalise, and they scored in the first minute of the second half. Kevin Gameiro levelled the game for Sevilla with a simple tap in. This brought the game alive.
In fact, Sevilla began to dominate Liverpool. They could have doubled the lead in the 48th minute, but Kolo Toure's brilliant defending denied Gameiro.
The second half proved to be one way traffic, with Sevilla attacking from all sides. The Spanish side threatened to score one more, and they did so with a fluent move, which was finished off by Andujar Coke, in the 64th minute.
With Liverpool in need of goals, Klopp brought Divock Origi for Roberto Firmino, who failed to shine in the all-important final. However, a minute after his arrival, Coke slotted his second of the night in the 70th minute, which was more or less the winning goal for Sevilla. Liverpool players on the touchline protested against the goal, suggesting an offside, but the goal rightfully stood.
Liverpool, who made a stunning cameback against Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinal, could not repeat that magic in the last 20 minutes in Basel as the Reds lost 3-1.
Sevilla deservedly won the title after coming back from one goal down. Liverpool looked below par in the second half, and Sevilla players took their chances, and won the Europa title this season as well.
