Dnipro 2-3 Sevilla: Carlos Bacca scores twice as La Liga side survive scare to retain Europa League crown and earn Champions League spot with dramatic win in Warsaw

By Mike Keegan For The Daily Mail

Published: 15:38 EST, 27 May 2015 | Updated: 03:52 EST, 28 May 2015

He has a look of Michael Corleone - and after masterminding this record breaking Europa League triumph Sevilla manager Unai Emery may end up with an offer he cannot refuse.

The 43-year-old has attracted admiring glances from the likes of Newcastle and West Ham and his credentials were further underlined with this triumph in an invigorating Europa League final.

After a morning on which the story was the ugly side of football came a bedtime fairytale - a five-goal thriller that displayed the beauty of the game.

Sevilla's Fernando Navarro lifts the Europa League trophy as confetti rains down on him and his team-mates after their 3-2 victory

Sevilla's Fernando Navarro lifts the Europa League trophy as confetti rains down on him and his team-mates after their 3-2 victory

Sevilla will play in the Champions League next season after winning the competition for a record fourth time

Sevilla will play in the Champions League next season after winning the competition for a record fourth time

Sevilla's players and staff are joined by their families on the pitch at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland

Sevilla's players and staff are joined by their families on the pitch at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland

Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca smashes a left-footed shot into the back of Dnipro's net to give his side the lead in the 73rd minute

Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca smashes a left-footed shot into the back of Dnipro's net to give his side the lead in the 73rd minute

Bacca's effort was too powerful for Dnipro goalkeeper Denys Boyko as Sevilla took the lead for the second time in the match

Bacca's effort was too powerful for Dnipro goalkeeper Denys Boyko as Sevilla took the lead for the second time in the match

Former Club Brugge striker Bacca celebrates after scoring his second goal of the night to retain the Europa League for Sevilla

Former Club Brugge striker Bacca celebrates after scoring his second goal of the night to retain the Europa League for Sevilla

Bacca drops to his knees and points to the sky after leaping over the advertising hoardings following his goal at the National Stadium

Bacca drops to his knees and points to the sky after leaping over the advertising hoardings following his goal at the National Stadium

MATCH FACTS

Dnipro (4-2-3-1): Boyko 7; Fedetskyi 6.5, Douglas 6, Cheberyachko 6, Léo Matos 6; Kankva 6.5 (Shakhov 85), Fedorchuk 6.5 (Bezus 68, 6); Matheus 7, Rotan 7.5, Konoplyanka 7; Kalinic 7 (Seleznyov 78)

Subs not used: Lastuvka, Vlad, Gama, Luchkevych,

Manager: Myron Markevych

Booked: Leo Matos, Kankava, Bezus, Rotan, Kalinic  

Goals: Kalinic 7, Rotan 44  

Sevilla (4-2-3-1): Rico 6.5; A. Vidal 7, Kolodzjejczak 6, Carrico 6, Tremoulinas 6.5; Krychowiak 8, Mbia 6.5; Banega 7.5 (Iborra 87), Reyes 7.5 (Coke 58, 6.5), Vitolo 7; Bacca 8 (Gameiro 82)

Subs not used: Beto, Navarro, Figueiras, Suarez

Manager: Unai Emery

Booked: Carrico, Bacca, Krychowiak 

Goals: Krychowiak 28, Bacca 31 and 73

MOTM: Bacca 

Referee: Martin Atkinson (England) 7.5

At the end of 90 breathless minutes, Emery's Andalusians were lifting Europe's most handsome trophy for a fourth time, overtaking Juventus, Inter Milan and Liverpool. A second back-to-back success following those of 2006 and 2007 in a decade of dominance. While the Europa League may be well and truly a second tier tournament, a quadruple is a fine achievement for Spain's fourth-largest city.

This was not, however, as straightforward as some had predicted.

Dnipro, from a land ravaged by war, had not come to surrender. They had played each 'home' match 243 miles to the north west in Kiev in a momentous path to Warsaw's Stadion Naradowy thanks to the crisis in the east of Ukraine.

In an arena that resembles a circus big top, this was a dramatic final act.

Sevilla started on the front foot and had an penalty appeal turned down by Martin Atkinson but on seven minutes the underdogs were ahead when Brazilian Matheus found space on the right and volleyed a precise cross onto the head of former Blackburn Rovers man Nikola Kalinic.

Showing a composure rarely seen at Ewood Park, the Croatian, who scored seven times in 44 appearances for the Lancashire side after signing as a £6million replacement for Roque Santa Cruz, powered his header past Sergio Rico to send those in sky blue and yellow wild.

Game on.

Sevilla, however, were composed and patiently searched for a response. Former £20m Arsenal man Jose Antonio Reyes, captain on what may have been his farewell appearance in his second stint at the club, hit a low drive into the side-netting from 20 yards out before unorthodox Dnipro keeper Denys Boyko, all punches and leg blocks, pulled off a superb full-stretch stop to prevent Pole Grzegorz Krychowiak from levelling on home soil.

He could not do the same moments later, however, when the burly Colombian Carlos Bacca laid the ball backwards from a short corner and Krychowiak took a calm touch and side-footed home to delight the locals.

The Ukranians were reeling and Sevilla, roared on by the red corner of a bouncing stadium, soon sent their opponents to the floor. Reyes, the man who failed to live up to the hype for the Gunners, spotted Bacca’s run and played a measured 30-yard through ball for the latecomer to calmly round Boyko and slot home. A bell-ringer of a goal from the former bus conductor.

Dnipro captain Ruslan Rotan makes it 2-2 against Sevilla with a pinpoint free-kick just a minute before half-time

Dnipro captain Ruslan Rotan makes it 2-2 against Sevilla with a pinpoint free-kick just a minute before half-time

Rotan's precise, curling effort goes up and over Sevilla's defensive wall and towards Sergio Rico's goal in the 44th minute

Rotan's precise, curling effort goes up and over Sevilla's defensive wall and towards Sergio Rico's goal in the 44th minute

Rico dives to his right but can't keep out Rotan's strike as Dnipro go in at the break on level terms after a lively opening period

Rico dives to his right but can't keep out Rotan's strike as Dnipro go in at the break on level terms after a lively opening period

Ukraine international Rotan slides on his knees to celebrate his goal as team-mate Leo Matos (right) joins him

Ukraine international Rotan slides on his knees to celebrate his goal as team-mate Leo Matos (right) joins him

Dnipro rallied. Urged on by around 10,000 noisy supporters, many of whom had tied the country’s sky blue and yellow flags around their necks, they quickly dusted themselves down and came again.

Pacy Liverpool target Yevhen Konoplyanka, cut in from the left and hit a swerving effort which was bound for the top corner until the intervention of Rico. The Sevilla keeper, 21, won his first Spanish call-up this week and showed why with a fine stop.

He may, however, have questioned his positioning when Ruslan Rotan, the Dnipro captain, clipped a free kick from the edge of the box over the wall and into the far corner for the equaliser to cue more chaotic scenes in the stands. 

Rotan, 33, revealed he and his team-mates had dipped into their own pockets to pay for some supporters to make the journey to Poland. His strike ensured many of those had smiles on their faces at the half-time whistle. 

Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca rounds Dnipro goalkeeper Denys Boyko on his way to scoring his side's second goal of the night

Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca rounds Dnipro goalkeeper Denys Boyko on his way to scoring his side's second goal of the night

Colombia international Bacca slots his shot into an empty net as Dnipro defender Douglas tries and fails to block his effort

Colombia international Bacca slots his shot into an empty net as Dnipro defender Douglas tries and fails to block his effort

Bacca drops to his knees and points to the sky to celebrate his goal as Jose Antonio Reyes (left) lets him enjoy his moment

Bacca drops to his knees and points to the sky to celebrate his goal as Jose Antonio Reyes (left) lets him enjoy his moment

Sevilla defender Grzegorz Krychowiak (second from left) scores his side's first goal of the night to make it 1-1 in Warsaw

Sevilla defender Grzegorz Krychowiak (second from left) scores his side's first goal of the night to make it 1-1 in Warsaw

Dnipro goalkeeper Boyko dives low to his left but can't keep out Krychowiak's deflected strike in the 28th minute

Dnipro goalkeeper Boyko dives low to his left but can't keep out Krychowiak's deflected strike in the 28th minute

Poland international Krychowiak shouts with delight as celebrates his first-half goal and is joined by team-mate Aleix Vidal (right)

Poland international Krychowiak shouts with delight as celebrates his first-half goal and is joined by team-mate Aleix Vidal (right)

Reyes made way on 58 minutes for Coke as Emery pushed the talented Aleix Vidal, who had been playing at right back, further up the field. It made the difference.

The vibrant Krychowiak almost instantly gave Sevilla the lead but could not force the ball home in a goalmouth scramble while Martin Atkinson rightly turned down a penalty appeal when Vitolo went down under minimal contact in the box.

The red tide could not be stemmed however, and few were surprised when Bacca, released by a delightful flick from a recovered Vitolo, fired the winner.

On a night for heroes Matheus was a late casualty, taken off on a stretcher following a late clash of heads with Benoit Tremoulinas leaving Dnipro down to 10. 

Dnipro striker Nikola Kalinic (left) stoops to head his side into the lead in the Europa League final against Sevilla

Dnipro striker Nikola Kalinic (left) stoops to head his side into the lead in the Europa League final against Sevilla

Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico (right) can't react quickly enough to stop Kalinic's header from nestling into the back of his net

Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico (right) can't react quickly enough to stop Kalinic's header from nestling into the back of his net

Former Blackburn Rovers forward Kalinic wheels away to celebrate his goal at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland

Former Blackburn Rovers forward Kalinic wheels away to celebrate his goal at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland

Kalinic is congratulated by his team-mates after opening the scoring in the seventh minute of Wednesday night's showpiece final

Kalinic is congratulated by his team-mates after opening the scoring in the seventh minute of Wednesday night's showpiece final

Dnipro's travelling contingent set off a flare as they celebrate their side taking the lead against La Liga outfit Sevilla

Dnipro's travelling contingent set off a flare as they celebrate their side taking the lead against La Liga outfit Sevilla

Regardless, they pressed with a series of corners but for them there was to be no wonder in Warsaw.

Perhaps it was fitting that their journey should come to an end in a city that knows more than most about human suffering - and issues with the bad boys next door.

Emery, already with a decade in management, will now have a decision to make.

He will be enticed by the prospect of Champions League football next season - for the first time handed out as a prize for the winners.

Sevilla’s win and that qualification may well have prompted more groans at the end of a season full of them in east London and on Tyneside.

Dnipro defender Matheus is carried off on a stretcher after suffering a head injury late in the game at the National Stadium in Warsaw

Dnipro defender Matheus is carried off on a stretcher after suffering a head injury late in the game at the National Stadium in Warsaw

Former Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes (left) is challenges for the ball with Dnipro captain Ruslan Rotan (right)

Former Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes (left) is challenges for the ball with Dnipro captain Ruslan Rotan (right)

Ukrainian supporters set off red flares as they get behind their team in the Europa League final

Ukrainian supporters set off red flares as they get behind their team in the Europa League final

Sevilla striker Bacca (left) keeps his eyes on the ball as Dnipro's Artem Fedetskiy tries to get himself back into position

Sevilla striker Bacca (left) keeps his eyes on the ball as Dnipro's Artem Fedetskiy tries to get himself back into position

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson watches on from the stands after attending the LMA awards on Tuesday night

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson watches on from the stands after attending the LMA awards on Tuesday night

Sevilla midfielder Stephane Mbia (left) stretches out his right leg to challenge Dnipro's Leo Matos in the second half

Sevilla midfielder Stephane Mbia (left) stretches out his right leg to challenge Dnipro's Leo Matos in the second half


 

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