These are the nights that live long in the memory. This was a night Villarreal will never forget. The Yellow Submarine defeated Manchester United after an epic Europa League final shootout, claiming Europe’s secondary club competition 11-10 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the first 120 minutes on Wednesday in Gdánsk, Poland.
Gerard Moreno and Edinson Cavani both scored in regulation to send the match to extra time, which finished scoreless to set the stage for an incredible penalty kick shootout.
While the first 120 minutes saw disappointing offensive play, the shootout saw two teams that simply could not miss. All 20 outfield players scored to put the spotlight on the goalkeepers.
Gerónimo Rulli slammed his effort past a diving David de Gea and then dove to his left to deny de Gea’s attempt to give Villarreal its first Europa League title and first European trophy since the Intertoto Cup in 2004.
¡Goool de Rulli!
@ManUtd ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅@VillarrealCF ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
EN VIVO https://t.co/hBwxZ9bXrh#UELfinal #UEL #MUFC pic.twitter.com/JMCK62wW55
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) May 26, 2021
¡La atajó!¡Rulli la atajó a De Gea en el último penalti!
¡Villarreal es campeón de la Europa league!@ManUtd ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅❌
@VillarrealCF ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
EN VIVO https://t.co/hBwxZ9bXrh#UELfinal #UEL #MUFC pic.twitter.com/S6WNQy4y0h
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) May 26, 2021
Villarreal, which finished seventh in LaLiga, now qualifies for next season’s Champions League. With any hope, they’ll draw Manchester United in the group stage after the Red Devils finished second in the Premier League, little consolation for losing the European final on Wednesday.
The win was especially sweet for a few former Premier Leaguers on Villarreal, including former Spurs Étienne Capoue and Juan Foyth, former Liverpool fullback Alberto Moreno, former Arsenal coach Unai Emery and midfielder Francis Coquelin. Coquelin made his Premier League debut 10 years ago against Manchester United, an ignominious 8-2 Arsenal defeat.
El momento más esperado
Así levantó Villarreal su primera Europa League ✨EN VIVO https://t.co/hBwxZ9bXrh#UELfinal #UEL #Villarreal pic.twitter.com/oGj7R5vUDP
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) May 26, 2021
Villarreal took the lead in the 29th minute through Gerard Moreno, who completely lost defender Luke Shaw before heading home a free kick. The goal was Moreno’s 82nd with the club in 185 matches, tying New Jersey-born Giuseppe Rossi for most in Villarreal history. The strike also gave Moreno 30 goals and 10 assists this season.
The United equalizer was a typical poacher’s goal, Edinson Cavani first to a ricocheted Marcus Rashford volley to poke home in the 55th minute.
The match was remarkably lacking in quality chances for either squad. Marcus Rashford somehow missed a sitter in the 70th minute, but the play probably would’ve been called back for offside.
Marcus Rashford pic.twitter.com/WChweo0FnD
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) May 26, 2021
Thus, the match went to extra time, which passed without incident to move the game into the penalty kick shootout.
The epic Europa League final shootout ratcheted up the pressure with every kick. Every outfield player converted from the spot, with Rulli and de Gea rarely even getting a finger on the efforts. The penalties seemed to be getting better as the shootout progressed, setting the stage for the goalkeepers.
Ultimately De Gea, who couldn’t keep any Villarreal shots out, was the man who couldn’t put his shot in, sending Villarreal to an underdog victory.
