COLOGNE – Inter Milan were beaten 3-2 by Sevilla in the Europa League final on Friday, an own-goal deciding the tie.

 The Italian side went ahead early with a penalty in the fifth minute from star Belgian striker, Romelu Lukaku. In an entertaining first-half that saw four goals, Netherlands attacker Luuk de Jong put Sevilla 2-1 up before an equaliser from Inter’s Uruguayan centre back Diego Godín.

 The second half did not maintain the to and fro of the first but Sevilla won their sixth Europa League when Romelu Lukaku deflected into his own net in the seventy fourth minute. Lukaku had a night of mixed fortunes after his early goal continued his record run of eleven consecutive games in which he has scored in the competition. The Belgian’s goal took his season’s tally to 34, the most for an Inter player since Brazilian legend Ronaldo.

 Inter had been hoping to end their nine-year wait for a trophy on Friday night, but were thwarted by the competition’s most-successful side. Sevilla have never lost in a final in this competition and Inter’s woes were increased when manager Antonio Conte, fuelled rumours he might depart the club in his post-match comments. Speaking after the game Conte said “I will always be thankful for the opportunity that’s been given to me, but there are so many things I haven’t liked and I don’t want to have another year like that.”

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