Despite a dream start, with a goal after five minutes, Lukaku grabs next to the Europa League. Inter Milan went into the boat 3-2 against Sevilla. The last goal was also scored by antihero Lukaku: fifteen minutes before the end, our fellow countryman unluckily managed to get the ball into his own goal. No first foreign top trophy for the Red Devil. A sour end to his most productive season ever.
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Mama Adolphine’s A formed with the fingers. The thumb in the mouth for son Romeo. The goal was for the family. It took less than five minutes before Romelu Lukaku seemed to have completely mastered the Europa League final against Sevilla. With a run that embarrassed Diego Carlos and forced the poor defender into a penalty foul. By converting the elf meter yourself. For Lukaku his 34th of the season – his most productive ever – equaling the club record that Ronaldo set in 1998. Nice detail: Ronaldo also poked his 34th in a European final against the nets. One that Inter would later win 3-0. Meant to be.
Only, Sevilla did not cooperate. The five-time winner of the Europa League has never lost a European final and did not immediately plan to do so. Before fifteen minutes, Luuk de Jong was already balancing the signs after a handsome header. By the way, whoever says that football without supporters is just an emotionless affair, got a kick out of it during this final. Intensity, fouls, riots, discussions, yellow for Inter-coach Antonio Conte, red cards that may not have been entirely justified: the atmosphere in Cologne was as hot as the weather. And we haven’t even talked about the rest of the game yet. De Jong who put Sevilla ahead with a second header – even better than the first -, Diego Godin who canceled that goal a little later. 35 minutes had been played or Sevilla – Inter was already the craziest Europa League final since Liverpool – Deportivo Alaves almost two decades ago. 5-4, that was just a big deal during half time.
Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be. On the contrary. The spectacle was apparently all used up before the break. What remained after the break was nervousness, mediocre combinations and too much realization that a mistake could mean the difference between a win and a loss. A shot of Ashley Young, yes, we saw that. But furthermore mainly Spanish fear of ever losing its European final and Italian fear of not winning a first prize – the previous one dating from 2011, the Coppa Italia – in nine years as a favorite. The latter is not the case if you call yourself a top club.
First done goal ever
Rippling did it. Until suddenly such a moment came that everything set fire again. A cross from Sevilla, badly appalled by the Milan defense, Diego Carlos – the man who was overrun for a match by Lukaku, he again – who actually ventured a bicycle kick with a wrapped thigh and saw his attempt disappear into goal via Inters leg. . A bone chiselled on Lukaku’s body. The Red Devil, who had missed an imposed opportunity ten minutes earlier, suddenly became completely the antihero. Author of the first ever owngoal in a Europa League final since the cup changed name in 2009. The Belgian who was ready to take a first trophy abroad and kicked his team ahead, now held back his own glory.
After all, Inter did not return. 3-2. Sevilla home with a sixth (!) Europa League. In Milan, mama Adolphine has some patchwork in the coming days.
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