Breaking: Villarreal Win Europa League By Defeating Manchester United In 11-10 Penalty Shoot-Out
Villarreal have on Wednesday night won Europa League after defeating Manchester United 11-10 in a penalty shoot-out, after United goalkeeper David De Gea missed the deciding spot-kick.
With neither side able to find the winner after extra-time, the game headed to penalties in front of 9,500 fans at Stadion Miejsk in Gdansk, TheAthletic reports.
The tie remained 1-1 during regular time after Edinson Cavani’s strike cancelled out Gerard Moreno‘s first-half effort.
The trophy is Villarreal’s first ever piece of major European silverware and manager Unai Emery‘s fourth triumph in the competition.
United started the game without their captain Harry Maguire, who missed out through injury.
Neither side were able to gain a foothold in the game during the early stages before Villarreal took the lead through a set-piece in the 29th minute. Moreno got away from his marker to poke home a wonderfully whipped in free-kick from Dani Parejo. The goal was Moreno’s 30th of the season and his club’s 100th of the campaign.
United were slightly rattled after going a goal down but gradually began dominating possession later in the half. Yet, they failed to muster any noteworthy chances with a compact Villarreal defence defending deeply.
They came closest before the break when Mason Greenwood smashed a cross into the box after a driving run down the right flank. The ball, however, deflected off Raul Albiol and landed into the grateful arms of goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
Early in the second half, United were lucky to escape from conceding a second goal. Eric Bailly’s missed clearance led the ball into United’s penalty area but Villarreal were unable to get a shot on goal as United’s nerves at the back began to show.
In an open game, Solskjaer’s side began to probe and eventually found an equaliser through veteran forward Cavani. Marcus Rashford hammered a first-time shot towards goal that richocheted into the feet of Cavani. Rulli had already dived, which allowed the Uruguay international to put the ball into an empty net.
United continued to dominate possession but also snatched at a number of half-chances they managed to carve.
The game then headed into extra-time, with Solskjaer not making a single substitute in the regular 90 minutes while, in contrast, Emery made five changes.
Villarreal held the lion’s share of possession in the opening stages of extra-time as United began to look jaded.
Emery’s side were unable to find an opening but the momentum clearly began to shift in additional period with the Spanish side becoming increasingly dominant. Yet, neither side could find the winner, sending the tie to penalties.
In a nail-biting penalty shoot out, De Gea missed the winning penalty to seal the Europa League title for Villarreal.
