Basel:Sevilla stunned Liverpool with a 3-1 comeback win to clinch a record third straight Europa League title on Wednesday.
Swept aside in the first half yet trailing only 1-0, the Spanish club equalized less than 18 seconds after the restart with Kevin Gameiro’s goal from close range and Coke struck twice in the 64th and 70th minutes.
Liverpool led on Daniel Sturridge’s beautifully curled shot with the outside of his left foot in the 35th.
Victory in the second-tier competition, for the fifth time in 11 seasons, lifts Sevilla into the Champions League group stage alongside Europe’s elite next season.
“Sevilla and its fans love this competition. We want it so much,” coach Unai Emery said. “Now we want to take the step toward the Champions League.”
Defeat leaves Liverpool with no European football next season and dealt coach Juergen Klopp a fifth straight loss in a cup final, including the 2013 Champions League final when he was with Borussia Dortmund.
Klopp accepted he and his players reacted poorly after Sevilla’s fast start to the second half, but also cited decisions that went against his team.
“If it was twice handball (then) 2-0 at halftime, it is different,” Klopp reflected. “In a final when it is clear it is close, we needed a little luck. We hadn’t.”
The third Sevilla goal was also furiously disputed by Liverpool after an assistant signaled what at first seemed an apparent offside against Coke, then lowered his flag.
It ensured Spain will sweep Europe’s club competitions for a third straight year, ahead of the Atletico Madrid-Real Madrid final of the Champions League on May 28.
Sevilla turned around the match magnificently to rock a Liverpool team that dominated as the first half progressed.
“The first (Sevilla) goal had a big influence on our game,” Klopp said. “In this moment we lost faith in our style of play. We have 44 minutes to strike back so where is the problem? The reaction was the problem.”
Two Sevilla goals exposed tackling and positional errors by its former player Alberto Moreno on the left side of Liverpool’s defense.
