Moroccan goalkeeper Bono and Argentine World Cup winner Gonzalo Montiel were the heroes for Sevilla as they beat Roma 4-1 on penalties to win the Europa League final on Wednesday.
The victory at the Puskas Arena in Budapest made it a magnificent seven in the competition for the Spanish side, who first clinched the trophy back in 2006.
Sevilla keeper Yassine Bounou, better known as Bono, saved penalties from Roma's Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez.
Montiel, who scored the winning penalty for Argentina against France in the World Cup final in Qatar slotted home the winning penalty at the second attempt after his first spot kick was saved but VAR ruled that it should be retaken for encroachment.
The game had ended 1-1 after extra time as a Mancini own goal in the 55th minute cancelled out Paulo Dybala's crisply taken opener ten minutes before half time.
Bono, who saved two penalties in Morocco's World Cup last-16 victory over Spain in Qatar, said after the Europa League win: "I've lived through many moments like this, I think you have to be very calm in moments like this. And your teammates, they make you calm, they give you security.
"This year there's been a lot of emotions, between the World Cup and everything, and today, sometimes your head goes and you aren't analysing exactly what happens, so you have to take things with normality."
By winning the Europa League, Sevilla now qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The defeat was Roma manager Jose Mourinho's first in a European final.
The Portuguese was set to become the most decorated European manager in history with six trophies as he had already won two Champions Leagues, a Uefa Cup, a Europa League and a Europa Conference League.
Sevilla v Roma - in pictures
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Sevilla's Moroccan goalkeeper Bono celebrates after saving two spot kicks in the shootout to win the Europa League final 4-1 on penalties against Roma at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, on May 31, 2023. Reuters -
Bono celebrates with Gonzalo Montiel, who struck the winning penalty for Sevilla. AFP -
Sevilla's players celebrate with fans. Getty -
Sevilla's goalkeeper Bono saves a penalty by Gianluca Mancini in the penalty shootout. AP -
Sevilla's Gonzalo Montiel scores the winning penalty. AP -
Sevilla's Bono saves a penalty from Roma's Roger Ibanez during the shoot-out. Reuters -
Sevilla's Bono in action during the penalty shoot-out. Reuters -
Sevilla's Youssef En-Nesyri and Lucas Ocampos celebrate after AS Roma's Gianluca Mancini scored an own goal. Reuters -
Roma's Gianluca Mancini, right, scores an own goal to level the scores. AP -
Gianluca Mancini of AS Roma reacts after scoring an own goal. Getty -
Roma's Gianluca Mancini, centre, reacts after scoring an own goal. AP -
Roma's Paulo Dybala celebrates after scoring their first goal against Sevilla. AP -
Paulo Dybala is mobbed by Roma teammates after scoring their first goal. AP P -
Roma's Paulo Dybala scores their first goal. Reuters -
Roma's Paulo Dybala scores their opening goal. AP -
Roma manager Jose Mourinho reacts on the touchline. Getty -
Roma manager Jose Mourinho confronts fourth official Michael Oliver after referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty to Sevilla that was later overturned following a VAR check. Getty -
Sevilla goalkeeper Bono makes a save from Roma's Leonardo Spinazzola. AP -
Ivan Rakitic of Sevilla shoots and hits the post. Getty -
Sevilla's Ivan Rakitic hits the post as Roma's Rui Patricio dives. Reuters -
Referee Anthony Taylor calls for medics after a clash of heads between Sevilla's Nemanja Gudelj and Roma's Roger Ibanez. AFP -
Roma manager Jose Mourinho embraces Sevilla's Jose Luis Mendilibar before kick-off. AFP
In a cagey start to the game, there were few chances as both sides began tentatively but the match came to life when Ivan Rakitic was dispossessed in his own half and Mancini played a through ball to Dybala, who slipped the ball cleverly past Bono in the 35th minute.
Erik Lamela and Suso were introduced at the start of the second half as Sevilla flew out of the blocks, pinning Roma in their own half. The pressure told in the 55th minute as Mancini turned into his own net as he tried to stop Lucas Ocampos from latching on to Jesus Navas’ whipped cross.
With a quarter of an hour left, Ocampos went over Roma defender Ibanez’s trailing leg and referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot. He overturned the penalty after a VAR check highlighted minimal contact.
It was Roma’s turn to appeal for a penalty soon afterwards when the ball hit Fernando’s arm. Taylor was unconvinced and then, not for the first time, headed to the Roma bench brandishing his yellow card.
While the names piled up in the official’s notebook, Roma almost had the last laugh but Andrea Belotti, on for Abraham, miscued a volley after a clever free-kick over the wall.
Fernando flashed a shot wide as the match went to extra time, in which both teams seemed reluctant to gamble.
Mourinho was booked for one of several confrontations with fourth official Michael Oliver but after, little action, Chris Smalling almost won it at the death but his looping header from a corner in the 10th minute of time added on came back off the bar.
The shoot-out started with Sevilla's Ocampos and Lamela scoring either side of Bryan Cristante netting for Roma but it was first blood to the Spanish when Mancini’s powerful effort came back off a diving Bono’s legs.
Ibanez then saw his kick tipped on to the post Bono and, while Patricio seemed to have given Roma a glimmer when tipping Montiel’s spot-kick on to the upright, the Portuguese keeper’s encroachment gave the La Liga player another chance and he made no mistake.
