Villarreal won the European Football League title for the first time in its history, after beating Manchester United in the final match Wednesday evening with a penalty shootout 11-10, after the end of the original and extra time with a 1-1 draw.
In the presence of about 9,500 spectators at the Stadion Energa Gdansk Stadium in Poland, Villarreal advanced with a goal scored by Spanish international Gerrard Moreno in the 29th minute, when he snatched a cross that overtook United's defenders and deposited it to the left of his compatriot De Gea.
Uruguayan veteran star Edinson Cavani translated Manchester United's attempts to adjust the score by scoring the equalizer, when he stole the ball in front of Villarreal's defenders and deposited it with their own goal.
# Villarreal_Manchester United
Cavani Stainless Gold # European League #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/lP8HA3Ao1R
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) May 26, 2021
The two teams failed to settle the score in the original time of the match, for another half hour to extend over two additional halves in which they repeatedly failed to settle the score as well, to end the match and overtime with a 1-1 draw.
The two teams ruled for penalties, which followed the approach of the marathon match, as the five kicks of each team ended in a 5-5 draw, after everyone scored successfully.
đź’› THE GerĂłnimo Rulli save that made history! #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/MQgJWn9rnb
- UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 26, 2021
The penalty shoot-out continued until Villarreal finally settled in his favor after all his players, the last of them goalkeeper, scored, while United goalkeeper David de Gea wasted his team's 11th kick, to dedicate the championship to Villarreal, who won the European title for the first time in his history.
Haitham Farouk: De Gea is the worst in tackling penalties # Villarreal_Manchester United |
European League
#Studio_Wednesday # UELfinal pic.twitter.com/xvj8eBNdFI
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) May 26, 2021
Manchester United has continued to fail to win any title since Jose Mourinho led them to win the League Cup and European League double in 2017.
🏆 Congratulations Villarreal!
đź‘Źđź‘Źđź‘Ź @ Eng_Villarreal |
#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/1uVHSdwEFw
- UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 26, 2021