A marathon penalty shootout decided the 2021 Europa League final
In short: In a match defined by endurance and unexpected heroes, Villarreal secured their first Europa League trophy. After 120 minutes of deadlock, the drama moved to a high-stakes shootout where even the goalkeepers were called to the spot to decide the champion.
The 2021 UEFA Europa League final, held on 26 May 2021, was a match shaped by the global pandemic. Originally intended for Seville, Spain, the event was relocated to the Stadion Gdańsk in Poland. This shift occurred because the 2020 final had been moved to Cologne, causing a one-year delay for the Polish venue. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 41,620-seat stadium operated at only 25% capacity, resulting in a sparse crowd of just 9,412 spectators.
On the pitch, the contest between Spanish side Villarreal and English club Manchester United remained deadlocked at 1–1 through extra time. Gerard Moreno opened the scoring for Villarreal in the 29th minute, but Edinson Cavani equalized for United in the 55th minute. The tension culminated in an extraordinary penalty shootout that went past the standard ten rounds. When the first ten penalties from both sides were successfully converted, the goalkeepers were forced to step up. Villarreal's Gerónimo Rulli converted his shot and then saved David de Gea's attempt to clinch the title.
The victory was significant for both clubs and their leadership. For Villarreal, it marked their first Europa League trophy and earned them a place in the 2021–22 Champions League group stage. For manager Unai Emery, it was his fifth European final, following a period of dominance with Sevilla. Manchester United's manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, reached his first final as a manager, exactly 22 years after scoring the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final. The match was overseen by French referee Clément Turpin, a veteran of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2021 UEFA Europa League final
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-2021-uefa-europa-league-final.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
