'What a story': Penalty shootout 'madness' decides Europa League final
Villarreal has won the Europa League in unbelievable fashion after defeating Manchester United on penalties 11-10.
The 'Yellow Submarine' finished seventh this year in La Liga and were set to miss out on Champions League qualifications until an incredible penalty shootout saw every player score except for United's keeper David De Gea.
'PERSONAL REASONS': Socceroos hero's sad family announcement
HORRIFIC: College soccer star, 21, killed in devastating drowning accident
'STRANGE SEASON': Fans erupt over Premier League madness
In the first European final to be played in front of a crowd in two years amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Villarreal survived a tough second half to give coach Unai Emery a record fourth title in the competition - three of them with Sevilla, leaving United without a trophy since their Europa triumph in 2017.
The Spanish outfit, from a small town in the east of Spain, opened the scoring after Gerard Moreno continued his remarkable goal scoring run.
The striker poked the ball home from a beautiful free-kick from Dani Parejo in the 37th minute.
But United equalised when Edinson Cavani swept the ball into the net after collecting Marcus Rashford's deflected shot on 55 minutes.
A small town in Spain winning one of club football's great trophies...
What a story this Villarreal side have created! 🙌
Sheer ecstasy as they lift the #UEL trophy 🤩#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/60qHlhRcyF— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 26, 2021
Villarreal held out through the second half and extra-time before a simply incredible penalty shootout.
all outfield players scored their penalties before Rulli got the better of de Gea.
Football world reacts to Villarreal's penalty shootout win
The football reacted with astonishment in the manner in which Villarreal won the penalty shootout.
𝙈𝘼𝘿𝙉𝙀𝙎𝙎.#UELfinal#ItsOurTime pic.twitter.com/SQT1nKy0yt
— Villarreal CF English (@Eng_Villarreal) May 26, 2021
Scenes as Villarreal secure their first major European trophy! 🎉🎉🎉#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/f3LUxvktAC
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 26, 2021
That winning moment 😲#UEL #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/2fkcU3TVVJ
— Goal (@goal) May 26, 2021
Villarreal fans were heartbroken in 2006 when a missed Riquelme penalty saw Yellow Submarine denied chance to make it to the Champions League final. Tonight, 15 years on, the greatest moment in the club's history has arrived thanks to a win on penalties! #UEL pic.twitter.com/NFbPfOhV60
— Ben Hayward (@bghayward) May 26, 2021
Credit to Geronimo Rulli. The guy refused to save 10 penalty kicks and had faith that his tean mates would score theirs only to grab the headlines in the end. Villarreal hero. pic.twitter.com/XSKgk6aJ1d
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) May 26, 2021
Many fans also reserved praise for Unai Emery who has now won his fourth Europa League trophy (three with Sevilla, one with Villarreal)
May 6: Knocks Arsenal out of UEL
May 26: Beats Man Utd in UEL Final
Unai Emery, ladies and gentlemen 😏 pic.twitter.com/nUoEOqfR6P— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 26, 2021
Unai Emery has competed in five #UEL Finals a manager:
🏆 2014 (Sevilla)
🏆 2015 (Sevilla)
🏆 2016 (Sevilla)
🥈 2019 (Arsenal)
🏆 2021 (Villarreal)
Turns out it was Arsenal that was the problem. pic.twitter.com/xMyNNN9Bgx— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 26, 2021
Unai Emery wins his FOURTH Europa League trophy 🏆
King of the competition. pic.twitter.com/MPp36fqRXs— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 26, 2021
with AAP
Watch 'Mind Games', the new series from Yahoo Sport Australia exploring the often brutal mental toil elite athletes go through in pursuit of greatness:
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.