AGONY FOR LUKAKU AS SEVILLA REIGN SUPREME ONCE AGAIN

ROMELU LUKAKU turned from hero to villain for Inter Milan last night as his own goal gave Sevilla their fourth Europa League triumph in the last six years. The Belgian opened the scoring from the penalty spot after five minutes but it was his contribution at the other end that was to prove decisive in the 74th minute, when he knocked in an overhead-kick effort from Diego Carlos that looked to be drifting wide. In the second minute, Sevilla wanted a red card when Danilo D’Ambrosio swung an arm at Lucas Ocampos, and they became even angrier when Inter took the lead with their first attack.

Lukaku powered onto Nicolo Barella’s pass and surged past Carlos, who dragged him down with a challenge right out of the Six Nations. Inter were enraged that the defender — who has now conceded spot-kicks in three consecutive matches — saw only a yellow card, yet seconds later they were ahead when Lukaku beat Bono from the spot. Just as they had against Manchester United, Sevilla did not panic, got their possession game going and scored the equaliser. Jesus Navas delivered a waisthigh cross and Luuk de Jong drifted between Diego Godin and Stefan de Vrij before connecting with a diving header that Samir Handanovic could only palm into the net. Both sides looked dangerous in attack, vulnerable at the back. D’Ambrosio miscued a volley at the far post after stretching for Ashley Young’s cross. Sevilla’s midfield genius Ever Banega created their second. His precise freekick picked out the soaring De Jong at the far post, and the Dutchman guided a magnificent header into the top corner. Sevilla celebrated raucously yet just like Inter, they could not keep their lead. Once again, Carlos’ foul on Lukaku was costly. This time it was outside the box but the result was the same as Marcelo Brozovic picked out Godin, who nodded past Bono. Lukaku squandered a rare opportunity when he was denied by Bono after being played in one-on-one by Nicolo Barella. And Sevilla claimed the vital winner on 74 minutes when the unfortunate striker redirected Carlos’ overhead kick into his own net.