SEVILLA BEATS BENFICA IN EUROPA FINAL ON PKS

Sevilla beat Benfica 4-2 in a penalty shootout to win the Europa League after a 0-0 draw in the final on Wednesday in Turin, Italy, claiming another international title for Spanish football.

Sevilla goalkeeper Beto saved two penalty kicks from Benfica forwards Oscar Cardozo and Rodrigo who failed to deceive with stutter-step approaches to the ball.

Substitute Kevin Gameiro stepped up to score the decisive kick as the drama played out at the end housing Sevilla fans.

The Portuguese champion had dominated regulation time but was denied by key blocks from Sevilla defenders, and had several appeals for penalties denied by German ref- eree Felix Brych in the second half.

Sevilla, which won the competition for the third time in nine seasons, ensured Spain will sweep the season-ending European club competitions, with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid meeting in the Champions League final on May 24.

Next month Spain will defend its World Cup crown in Brazil and seek to clinch a record fourth straight major international trophy after winning the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.

Benfica extended its streak of losing European finals to eight matches over 52 years since its greatest player, Eusebio, inspired two straight European Cup titles in 1961 and “62.