Coke double ensures Jurgen Klopp party falls flat as Sevilla seal Europa League.Sevilla right-back Coke broke Liverpool hearts with a second-half brace in a controversy-filled 3-1 victory that secured a record third consecutive Europa League title on Wednesday.
Liverpool traveled to St Jakob-Park with an army of fans and confident in their chances of a first Europa League trophy since 2001 after an impressive campaign in Europe’s second tier competition.
But Jurgen Klopp’s men failed to build on Daniel Sturridge’s superb 35th minute opener, and when Kevin Gameiro found Liverpool asleep to level seconds after the restart, it opened the floodgates.
Superior technique honed by playing in the “best league in the world” was key to Sevilla’s record-setting Europa League triumph over Liverpool, said the club’s central defender Timothee Kolodziejczak.
Five-time European champions Liverpool travelled to St Jakob-Park in Basel confident of a first Europa League trophy since 2001, but Jurgen Klopp’s men failed to build on Daniel Sturridge’s superb 35th-minute opener.
When Kevin Gameiro caught Liverpool napping to equalise 17 seconds after half-time, it opened the floodgates, with Spanish midfielder Coke scoring twice in six minutes to give Unai Emery’s men a 3-1 lead by the 70th minute.
Coke looked offside for his second goal, when Ever Banega’s pass came off a Liverpool player, but after angry scenes that saw Klopp sprint down the touchline to confront the linesman, Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson pointed to the centre circle after consulting with his official.
Sevilla’s fifth Europa League trophy since 2006 means they earn automatic entry to next season’s Uefa Champions League.