JWSport Jacek Waszak – Sport journalist
The players of the “Red Devils” arrived in Gdansk on Monday late afternoon and drove from the airport to the Hotel Gdansk on Szafarnia. The Villarreal players, or the ‘Yellow Submarine’, arrived on Tuesday morning and their base was the Marriott Sopot Hotel .
No one expected Villarreal to beat Manchester United in the Europa League final at the Polsat Plus Arena Gdansk in Poland. This is the only such UEFA League final in the world.
What we all saw we will certainly remember for the rest of our lives because such a final has not been in the history of football for a long time FIFA or UEFA. There was action, sensation and drama in the final. Crazy penalty kicks and Villarreal won the Europa League!
In the 6th minute, Shaw’s pass from the left, Cavani presses on the ball, but misses cleanly and the ball goes out of bounds.
In less than a minute, in the 7th minute, United aggressively get to the rival, the loss of Torres in his own half, Rashford falls into the penalty area, plays in front of the penalty area, to McTominay, who decides to shoot from distance, unfortunately off target.
And it was in the 16′ minute an unusual play of a corner kick, United’s defence covered with a zone, making it elude Trigueros, who, however, got a difficult play and his shot from the air flew high over the goal.
Good action in the 20th minute Wan-Bissaka crosses into the penalty area, the ball passes Bruno and Cavani, in the second pace comes Shaw, who shot the ball into the penalty area, but nobody managed to cut this good play. United are dominating.
Yes in the 22nd minute it was threatening again after a Villarreal corner kick, the deflected ball is collected by Pedraza who shoots with all his might, McTominay blocks sacrificially.
There was again in the 24th minute a capital play by Greenwood to Cavani, who had a capital opportunity to shoot from the goalline, but he chose not to do so and eventually missed the opportunity.
24th minute Rashford’s shot from distance, accurate but no danger for Ruli.
Ca in the 27th minute as a counter attack by the Spaniards ensued, Yeremy trying to finish it with a shot from about 25 yards, off target.
In the 30th minute we have what we were waiting for a 1-0 goal for Villarreal, Gerrard Moreno. A free kick from Parejo, Moreno gets to the ball and slips it into De Gea’s net. Shaw and Lindelof miss the ball.
In the 37th minute McTominay gets a pass from Cavani, runs into the penalty area and instead of passing he decides to shoot, which flies into the stands.
Then in the second half in the 54th minute McTominay in confusion manages to take a shot at Ruli’s goal, blocked
This is Manchester United’s action in the 55th minute equalizing the goal for 1-1! Edinson Cavani . Rashford’s shot from a deflected corner kick, the ball bounces under the legs of Cavani who shoots the ball hard from close range into the net! It’s a draw in the final what an emotion we had .
Again in the 70th minute, Manchester on the attack Cavani perpendicular to Bruno, who plays into the penalty area to Rashford, who by some miracle missed the goal from a few meters! The Englishman was lucky that Bruno was offside.
In the 72′ minute once again Cavani How did it not fall! Shaw passes into the penalty area onto the Uruguayan’s head, but he hits Torres!
In the 79th minute McTominay drives another United effort, this time finding Cavani with a pass, he tried a spectacular heel shot but it was blocked.
But again in the 81st minute Rashford shoots from distance, but unfortunately off target.
In the 89th minute A nice action of the “Red Devils” in the end, Rashford to Shaw, who centers from the first ball, to the shot comes to Pogba, who, however, takes the ball over the goal.
90+2′ Again there was a threat after a Villarreal corner, Torres reaches the shot, but the ball flies over the goal.
Extra time of the match but the excitement in this final something incredible .
For this in the 91′ minute Bruno translates to the left leg and shoots, Albiol takes this shot on the body.
99′ Both teams are afraid to take risks, Villarreal continue to defend with almost the whole team in their half.
99′ Alberto Moreno had some space on the side of the pitch, but his shot completely misses.
100′ Minutes of the match Fatal loss for Manchester City under their penalty area, Gerrard Moreno quickly found Alcacer with a pass, who fortunately took it badly and struck badly.
115′ Player fatigue cramps and tension is getting to us all this evening , and extra time illustrates the struggle . Tired players either have no strength or are afraid to risk it.
Penalty kicks
Villarreal will start the series
1-0! Gerrard Moreno
1-1! Juan Mata
2-1! Raba
2-2! Alex Telles
3-2! Paco Alcacer
3-3! Bruno Fernandes
4-3! Alberto Moreno
4-4! Marcus Rashford
5-4! Dani Parejo
5-5! Edinson Cavani
6-5! My Gomez
6-6! Fred
7-6! Raul Albiol
7-7! Daniel James
8-7! Coquelin
8-8! Luke Shaw
9-8! Mario Gaspar
9-9! Axel Tuanzebe
10-9! Pau Torres
10-10! Victor Lindelof!
11-10! Mario Rui
11-10 – david de gea doesn’t take a penalty kick.
villarreal 2: 1 manchester united – penalties 11-10
Villarreal wins over 15 million euros for participation in the Champions League alone, while the club received about 20 million for promotion to the Europa League final.
Villarreal CF – Manchester United 1: 1 (1: 0, 1: 1, 1: 1), 11:10 on pens
Goals: G. Moreno 29 – Cavani 55
Villarreal CF: Geronimo Rulli – Juan Foyth (88. Mario Gaspar), Raul Albiol, Pau Torres, Alfonso Pedraza (88. Alberto Moreno) – Daniel Parejo, Etienne Capoue (120+3. Daniel Raba), Manu Trigueros (77. Moi Gomez) – Gerard Moreno, Carlos Bacca (60. Francis Coquelin), Yeremi Pino (77. Paco Alcacer)
Manchester United: David de Gea – Aaron Wan-Bissaka (120+3. Juan Mata), Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly (116. Axel Tuanzebe), Luke Shaw – Paul Pogba (116. Daniel James), Scott McTominay (120+3. Alex Telles) – Mason Greenwood (100. Fred), Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford – Edinson Cavani
