Wolves' Europa League Dream Ends
Wolves'
Europa League dream came to a heartbreaking end as Sevilla booked a semi-final
against Manchester United on Sunday with a late winner in Duisburg.
Nuno
Espirito Santo's side whose pandemic disrupted 2019-20 season lasted 383 days
had a glorious 13th minute chance to take the lead but Raul
Jimenez's penalty was saved.
They
struggled to create chances after that and failed to hold on for extra time as
Lucas Ocampos' header from Ever Banega's cross settled the tie for Sevilla with
two minutes to go.
Wolves will
not be in European competition next season after finishing seventh in the
Premier League.
Five-time
winners Sevilla who are unbeaten in 19 games in all competitions will face Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's United in
Dusseldorf on Sunday. Inter Milan or Shakhtar Donetsk await the winners in the
final.
The defeat
will come as a huge disappointment to Wolves, who could struggle to hold on to
some of their star players without any European football next year.
The season
started on 25 July 2019 with a 2-0 qualifying home win over Crusaders in
qualifying in front of 29,708 excited fans on their return to Europe after 39
years. And it ended after 59 games in an empty ground far away from home.
They looked
exhausted after a quick start on a hot night in Duisburg.
Jimenez had
a header saved after 37 seconds from Adama Traore's cross and then had a poor
penalty saved after Traore was fouled following a sensational surging run.
They had two
reasons to be aggrieved. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou appeared to be off his line
and defender Diego Carlos entered the box before the kick was taken and headed
the loose ball.
The video
assistant referee did not spot either infringement.
Wolves did
not manage a single shot on target in the 77 minutes following that and were
hanging on for large portions with a solid defensive performance.
Sevilla
managed 18 shots to Wolves' six and the breakthrough finally came late on.
Following a short corner Banega's perfect cross found Ocampos, whose glancing
header left Rui Patricio with no chance.
FROM bbc.com/sport/football
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