Sevilla on Friday defeated Inter Milan 3-2 in the thrilling final of the UEFA Europa League 2019-20 in Cologne. With six such titles now, the Spanish club stand as the most successful team in the history of the competition.

Sevilla rallied from one goal down to deny Inter Milan the chance of winning their first major trophy in almost 10 years. Romelu Lukaku had given the Italian side the lead before a brace from Luuk de Jong put Sevilla on the lead. Despite Diego Godin’s equaliser, an own goal by Lukaku shattered Inter’s dream.

Both the sides, meanwhile, had started the match with a positive intent and had chances right away in each other’s box. The first game within five minutes when Carlos fouled Lukaku and the latter converted the resulting penalty to score in his 11th straight European appearances.

The Spaniards were not to be overawed by it as they brought parity into the contest within seven minutes. Jesus Navas had all time and space on the right-wing to curl the ball into the path of Luuk de Jong, who nodded home the equaliser.

The finalists then traded goal-scoring chances before Sevilla took one seriously. At the half-hour mark Dutchman De Jong headed home an Ever Banega’s set-piece.

Like Inter’s lead at the beginning was short-lived, Sevilla’s party, too, did not last long. The Nerazzurri went on equal terms only moments later after Marcelo Brozovic’s free-kick allowed Godin to head home the two-all draw at the far post.

Inter had to thank Samir Handanovic in the closing period of the first half as the 36-year old goalkeeper defused a dangerous effort from Lucas Ocampos before the half time.

After the restart, both teams focused on their defence during the break, thus goal-scoring opportunities were at a premium in the opening stages of the second half.

Lukaku had a shot on target at the hour mark but the Belgian international striker remained in the thick of things as he accidentally deflected Diego Carlos’s overhead kick into the wrong goal in the 76th minute.

Inter started an onslaught on Sevilla’s goal in the dying minutes of the game but for all that Sevilla’s well-positioned defense stood firm and protected the narrow lead to the final whistle, clinching a record sixth Europa League title.