Manchester Metropolis gamers rejoice after profitable the UEFA Tremendous Cup Remaining soccer match between Manchester Metropolis and Sevilla at Georgios Karaiskakis stadium in Piraeus port, close to Athens, Greece, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. (AP Photograph/Thanassis Stavrakis)
ATHENS, Greece — Manchester Metropolis marked its first look within the UEFA Tremendous Cup by beating Sevilla 5-4 in a penalty shootout on Wednesday so as to add one other piece of silverware to its huge haul underneath supervisor Pep Guardiola.
After a 1-1 attract regulation time after which 9 profitable spot kicks within the shootout, Nemanja Gudelj struck his try in opposition to the crossbar handy Metropolis victory inside Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis.
It was a fifteenth trophy gained by Metropolis in Guardiola’s reign that began in 2016 and made up for the loss to Arsenal in a penalty shootout within the Neighborhood Protect 10 days in the past.
“The supervisor made it so clear to us earlier than the sport how a lot he needs to win this trophy,” Metropolis midfielder Jack Grealish stated in regards to the annual match between final season’s winners of the Champions League (Metropolis) and Europa League (Sevilla). “You need to win every thing anyway however that gave us extra of an urge. This membership has by no means gained it. It’s an excellent feeling.”
Youssef En-Nesyri’s towering header gave Sevilla the lead within the twenty fifth minute of a match performed in stifling warmth and humidity in Athens.
Metropolis equalized by means of a header by winger Cole Palmer within the 63rd because the European champions dominated the second half, with star striker Erling Haaland staying on the sector for the entire sport regardless of a giant Premier League match in opposition to Newcastle arising on Saturday.
Guardiola turned the second supervisor, after Carlo Ancelotti, to win the Tremendous Cup 4 occasions and the primary to win it with three totally different groups after doing so at Bayern Munich (2013) and Barcelona (2009, 2011).
Kyle Walker lifted the cup amid ticker tape and chants of “Champions” by his Metropolis teammates on the stage in the course of the sector. It’s changing into a well-known sight, with the membership having gained the Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League treble final season for the primary time.
Manchester Metropolis gamers rejoice on the finish of the UEFA Tremendous Cup Remaining soccer match between Manchester Metropolis and Sevilla at Georgios Karaiskakis stadium in Piraeus port, close to Athens, Greece, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. (AP Photograph/Thanassis Stavrakis)
This season is perhaps harder for Guardiola and Metropolis, with the match maybe highlighting the crew’s want for extra creativity and purpose menace following the offseason departures of Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez and an harm to Kevin De Bruyne that would sideline him for as much as 4 months.
Palmer might be one reply, with the 21-year-old academy product impressing as Metropolis’s most harmful participant and nodding in from Rodri’s cross so as to add to his purpose within the Neighborhood Protect. He ought to get extra sport time this season on the precise wing following Mahrez’s transfer to Saudi Arabia.
“This man is unimaginable and he’s bought good gamers to be taught off and the very best supervisor on the earth,” Walker stated of Palmer. “He must preserve going, preserve his ft on the ground like he has been and preserve scoring targets. If he retains enhancing, he’ll be wonderful.”
Sevilla often troubled Metropolis on the break and off one such foray ahead, En-Nesyri bought in between Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol — making his first begin for Metropolis — and leaping excessive to energy in a header from Marcos Acuña’s left-wing cross.
Metropolis goalkeeper Ederson Moraes pulled off two saves from En-Nesyri within the second half, both facet of Palmer’s purpose, and didn’t must make a save within the shootout.
Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Mateo Kovacic, Grealish and Walker transformed Metropolis’s penalties, whereas Lucas Ocampos, Rafa Mir, Ivan Rakitic and Gonzalo Montiel netted for Sevilla.
Sevilla, which gained the Europa League for the seventh time final season, has gained simply gained of its seven appearances within the Tremendous Cup. That was again in 2006 on its debut.
“It’s actually irritating for us, however I’m happy with my teammates,” Sevilla ahead Erik Lamela stated. “The crew did a superb job, we ran loads in opposition to a really, superb crew.”
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