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For the second consecutive season, the UEFA Cup was won by the Sevilla club. The team from Sevilla achieved this victory on a late Wednesday evening, after a fierce and dramatic battle, heroically played by goalkeeper Andres Palop in the penalty shootout, defeating Barcelona's Espanyol.
2-2, penalties 1-3 18’ [0-1] Adriano Correira 28’ [1-1] Albert Riera 105' [1-2] Frederic Kanoute 115' [2-2] Domingos Jonatas 68’ Moises Hurtado ("Espanyol") sent off The match started almost without any observation, both teams focused heavily on attacking. The first goal came in the 18th minute. Later, the hero of the match, Sevilla's goalkeeper Andres Palop, caught the ball, passed it all the way to Adriano Correira, who broke away from the defender and scored a goal from the edge of the penalty area. However, the score became even in the 28th minute - after Alberto Riera's shot from a distance slightly changed direction and flew into the goal.
After the break, a similar game took place, both teams demonstrated fast football. "Espanyol" had to retreat a bit when defender Moises Hurtado was sent off the field in the 68th minute.
In extra time, a slight advantage belonged to Sevilla, and they took the lead - after a pass from Jesus Navas from the wing, Frederic Kanoute scored from close range past Gorka Iraizoz. However, "Espanyol" did not give up, playing with ten men. In the 115th minute, Jonatas equalized the score with a clever long-range shot.
In the penalty shootout, the true hero was Sevilla's goalkeeper Andres Palop, saving three shots - from Luis Garcia, Jonatas, and Marco Torrejon. The Sevilla players won the penalty shootout 3-1 and for the second year in a row secured the UEFA Cup.
