Goalkeeper Andres Palop emerged Sevilla's hero by saving three penalties in the shootout to give his side victory over Espanyol in a thrilling all-Spanish UEFA Cup final at Hampden Park on Wednesday.
The Andalucians became only the second side to retain the trophy after a pulsating game, played in driving rain, ended 2-2 after 120 minutes, condemning Espanyol to more European final heartbreak — 19 years after they lost the 1988 final on penalties to Bayer Leverkusen.
Palop, whose headed goal against Shakhtar Donetsk in the last 16 had kept the holders in the competition, saved spot-kicks from Luis Garcia, Jonatas and Marc Torrejon to give Sevilla victory 3-1 on penalties.
Sevilla, emulating Real Madrid, who achieved successive UEFA Cup triumphs in 1985 and 1986, remain on course for a treble. They play Getafe in the King's Cup final and are still in contention for the Primera Liga title.
Brazilian winger Adriano Correia had fired the holders ahead on 18 minutes but Espanyol were level 10 minutes later, Albert Riera's shot from just inside the box beating Palop after taking a deflection.
Close range
Mali striker Frederic Kanoute pounced from close range to turn home a Jesus Navas cross at the end of the first extra period.
But after Sevilla had wasted a host of chances to seal the trophy, Brazilian substitute Jonatas let fly from 20 metres and scored with the help of a slight deflection five minutes from the end of extra-time.
It was just reward for a battling Espanyol side, reduced to 10 men after 68 minutes when defender Moises Hurtado was sent off for a second yellow, who played their part in a high-octane match.
A lively start had set the tone with both sides committed to attack. There were half-chances to both sides inside the first four minutes, Espanyol Raul Tamudo blazing over, then Sevilla midfielder Enzo Marseca producing some trickery in the box before curling narrowly wide.
Espanyol had their tails up and Palop came to his side's rescue again, producing a stunning one-handed save to palm Riera's left-footed half-volley, struck with real venom, on to the crossbar.
A goal at that stage would have been just reward but they were put on the backfoot after 68 minutes when Hurtado, booked in the first half, halted substitute Alexander Kerzhakov's run with a tackle from behind and was sent off.
Espanyol rode their luck after that but conjured an equaliser when Brazilian Jonatas curled in with a shot that deflected off Christian Poulsen and past a despairing Palop. Kanoute struck first for Sevilla in the shootout before Ivica Dragutinovic and Antonio Puerta also scored for Sevilla, although Daniel Alves missed.
Pandiani was Espanyol's only scorer in the shootout.
