<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Sevilla found their Europa League magic formula on Wednesday, beating Roma 4-1 on penalties in Budapest to make it a perfect seven out of seven in finals in the competition.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The game finished 1-1 following extra-time after Paulo Dybala's opener was earlier cancelled out by an own goal from Roma defender Gianluca Mancini.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A bad-tempered but gripping match went to a shootout at a raucous Puskas Arena, with Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou proving the hero with two saves.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the winning penalty in the 2022 World Cup final, netted the decisive spot-kick after Mancini and Roger Ibanez had failed to convert for Roma.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The win is a remarkable achievement for 62-year-old Jose Luis Mendilibar, who only took over at Sevilla in March and is now celebrating his first major trophy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We are going to enjoy this because it has cost a lot and right now I don't know if I will renew or not and I don't care," said the Spaniard, who is not certain to be at the club next season.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The veteran coach was brought in to save the club from relegation and has led them to safety as well as European glory.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"When I arrived I told the players that they were very good but that they were not mentally in the right place and that was my job," he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"They have shown me in the end that they are very good."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Defeat spells heartbreak for Roma boss Jose Mourinho, who has lost a European final for the first time after five successes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The fans created a crackling atmosphere before kick-off but the early stages of the game did not match the colour in the stands.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Dybala strike -</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dybala repaid Mourinho's gamble on his fitness in the 35th minute when he latched onto Mancini's through ball from the centre circle, coolly slotting his shot past Bounou.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sevilla, finally finding some fluency, came agonisingly close to levelling deep into the seven minutes of added-on time when Ivan Rakitic drilled a fierce left-footed strike from distance that cannoned back off an upright.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mendilibar brought on forwards Suso and Erik Lamela for Oliver Torres and Bryan Gil at the break and the Spanish side began the second period on the front foot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They were level after 10 minutes when Mancini bundled a Jesus Navas cross from the right into his own net from close range.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Roma seemed certain to re-take the lead against the run of play midway through the second half but the Sevilla defenders somehow scrambled the ball away after several stabs at goal from close range.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dybala, starting a match for the first time since mid-April, was withdrawn, with midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum coming on to replace him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sevilla thought they had a penalty with 15 minutes to go after referee Anthony Taylor ruled that Ibanez had brought down Lucas Ocampos but the decision was overturned by VAR.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Roma squandered a glorious chance to go back in front when substitute Andrea Belotti failed to keep his shot on target with only the goalkeeper to beat.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Extra-time was largely uneventful as tempers flared between the two benches but Roma defender Chris Smalling almost snatched the win when he hit the woodwork with a looping header from a corner in the dying seconds.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There were 13 yellow cards awarded, the most ever in a UEFA Europa League game.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first three spot-kicks were converted but when man-of-the-match Bounou saved penalties from Mancini and pushed Ibanez's effort onto the post, the Spanish side had a 3-1 lead and appeared certain winners.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But there was more drama to come.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Montiel's effort was saved by Rui Patricio but the kick was ordered re-taken after an encroachment by the goalkeeper and this time the Argentine made no mistake.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sevilla, 11th in La Liga with one match to play will play in the Champions League next season.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But Roma's campaign could end with a whimper after the highs of winning the inaugural Europa Conference League last year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Italian team are sixth in Serie A with one game remaining and there are major doubts over whether Mourinho, 60, will still be manager next season.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We felt pressure against a team that has more talent than us," said the Portuguese. "We lost a game but not dignity. I've never gone home prouder than today, even when I won." AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>