WOLVES PAY THE PENALTY
Nuno late heartbreak to end the Euro hunt
WHEN Wolves fans gather in years to come and talk of missed opportunities, Duisburg 2020 will surely figure near the top of the list.
This was where Raul Jimenez, one of the best forwards in the business, for once lost his nerve from the spot. The penalty had been awarded after a thrilling burst from Adama Traore was halted illegally inside the box, and would have given Wolves the perfect start to their 59th game of this extended season.
Yet Jimenez missed and with it went Wolves’ chance of setting up a Europa League semi-final against Manchester United. As lightning flashed and thunder growled above the MSV-Arena, Sevilla — five times winners of this competition — gradually took control.
That it took them until the 88th minute to make their superiority count, Lucas Ocampos heading in the brilliant Ever Banega’s cross, will make it all the more painful for Wolves.
Wolves’ season, which began on July 25 last year in the second qualifying round against Crusaders, had finally ended. In barely a month, they will be back in action again, if the Premier League resumes as planned on September 12. Coaxing these exhausted players back to mental and physical fitness will be a huge challenge for their accomplished coach, Nuno Espirito Santo.
Wolves had two promising moments early on, with Jimenez heading Traore’s cross over inside a minute before Leander Dendoncker made a hash of a volley after Joao Moutinho had picked him out with a free-kick.
Dendoncker had been brought in as the extra midfielder as Nuno chose to match Sevilla’s trio of Joan Jordan, Fernando and Banega in the middle.
The plan was to sit deep and use the pace of Traore on the break — and it nearly worked to perfection in the 11th minute.
After Dendoncker had robbed Banega, Ruben Neves found Traore well inside his own half and the winger turned and picked up speed like an Olympic 100m sprinter, powering past three challenges before he was hacked down inside the box by Diego Carlos.
It was a clear penalty and yet somehow Jimenez, magnificent all season, could not rise to the occasion. He stuttered once too many in his run-up and the shot was weak, allowing Bono to keep the ball out — though replays showed he may have been just off his line when the kick was taken. Moutinho was quickest to the loose ball but failed to keep his volley on target.
Sevilla were second-best until then but they grew into the game and targeted Ruben Vinagre, who had replaced the injured Jonny at left wing back for Wolves. Jonny faces a long spell on the sidelines after damaging cruciate knee ligaments in the Olympiacos second leg and Wolves missed his energy and physical presence.
Indeed, it was from Vinagre’s flank that Julen Lopetegui’s side produced their first chance, as former Liverpool youngster Suso cut inside and forced Rui Patricio into a sharp save from 20 yards. In the 22nd minute, Youssef En-Nesyri headed Jesus Navas’ cross over the top, and the Moroccan forward was off target again soon after with an angled drive after being released by Suso.
Suso was becoming increasingly influential as Sevilla started to dominate possession. Ocampos had been the quietest of Sevilla’s front three in the first half yet he had Wolves nerves jangling when he shimmied away from Boly on the left and sent the ball arcing towards Patricio’s left corner, only for it to drop just wide.
Nuno paced his technical area, arms folded, his tension clear.
His side could not, however, change the pattern of the match when it resumed after half-time.
The problem with using Traore as an out-and-out forward is that while he has incredible speed, he has little of the craft the role requires. Some of his service was aimless, yet his inability to hold on to the ball meant it kept coming back at Wolves. When Wolves did have a rare chance to break, Jimenez rushed the final pass. Twice the Mexican could have played in Traore and Doherty and left his team frustrated when he misjudged.
Ocampos had moved to the right and found space for a cut-back near the hour mark, forcing Dendoncker to steal the ball from EnNesyri’s toes as he went to shoot.
The centre forward was frustrated again soon afterwards when he barged his way through but was off balance when he shot, allowing Patricio to claim. Suso had looked a fine player all night and he showed it again with a delightful clipped ball that Jules Kounde headed high from six yards.
Nuno brought on Petro Neto for Moutinho with 20 minutes left and switched to 3-4-3, with Traore on the right and Jimenez left to joust with the Sevilla centre backs.
As Diogo Jota waited to come on, Coady brought down Banega right on the edge of the box and
Patricio flew to his left to palm over the Argentine’s delicate effort.
But Banega had the final word when he guided over the perfect cross from the right and Ocampos’ flicked header was enough to send Sevilla into the last four.
SHAKHTAR DONETSK booked a semi-final clash with Inter Milan in Dusseldorf on Monday as they beat Basel 4-1 in Gelsenkirchen.
WOLVES (3-5-2): Rui Patricio 7; Boly 8, Coady 7.5, Saiss 7; Doherty 7, Dendoncker 7, Neves 6, Moutinho 6.5 (Neto 71 min, 6), Vinagre 6.5; Jimenez 5.5, Traore 6 (Jota 79). Subs not used: Ruddy, Sondergaard, Jordao, Gibbs-White, Campana, Kilman, Buur, Marques, Richards. Booked: Saiss, Neves. Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo 6.5. SEVILLA (4-3-3): Bono 7.5; Navas 7, Kounde 6.5, Diego Carlos 6, Reguilon 6.5; Jordan 7 (Vazquez 84), Fernando 6, BANEGA 8.5; Suso 7.5 (Munir 89), En-Nesyri 6.5 (De Jong 85), Ocampos 7. Subs not used: Vaclik, Sanchez, Gomez, Escudero, Torres, Mena, Alonso, Genaro, Perez. Scorer: Ocampos 88. Booked: Diego Carlos. Manager: Julen Lopetegui 7. Referee: Daniele Orsato 6.