Villarreal seal historic title

Gdansk (Poland), May 27

The penalty shootout was going badly for Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea in the Europa League final, beaten by every Villarreal player who stepped up to the spot.

At 11-10, it got dramatically worse. The shootout — after a 1-1 draw following extra time — went on so long that all of the outfield players took penalties, meaning de Gea and Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli were the 11th men up.

Rulli’s sailed into the top corner, but De Gea’s lacked power and was stopped by his conterpart.

It was an upset to savour as Villarreal — a team from a city of about 50,000 people — secured the first major trophy in the 98-year history of the club by beating one of European soccer’s giants. — AP/PTI

• 1st Major trophy in the 98-year history of Villarreal
• 4th Europa League title for coach Unai Emery, a record. He had won three in a row with Sevilla from 2014 to 2016 and lost the 2019 final with Arsenal against Chelsea
• 3 Years Since United last won silverware — it was the Europa League in 2017

Zidane to step down as Real’s coach

Madrid: Zinedine Zidane is stepping down as Real Madrid coach, again. The club said today the Frenchman is leaving his job, a few days after a season in which Madrid failed to win a title for the first time in more than a decade. AP/PTI