Andres Palop saved three penalties to help Sevilla claim a 3-1 shootout victory over 10-man Espanyol after a 2-2 draw to clinch the UEFA Cup title for the second successive season. Frederic Kanoute, Ivica Dragutinovic and Antonio Puerta successfully converted their penalties for Sevilla, with right-back Daniel Alves the only one to miss. Luis Garcia, Domingos Jonatas and Marc Torrejon saw their efforts superbly blocked by Palop. Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani was the only one to score for Espanyol. Adriano initially put Sevilla in front in the 18th minute but was cancelled out by Albert Riera's strike ten minutes later. Frederic Kanoute regained the lead for Sevilla late in the first period of extra time before Jonatas grabbed the equalizer five minutes before the end of the second-half. Sevilla became the first club to win the UEFA Cup two times in a row since Real Madrid's achievement in 1985 and 1986. Italian midfielder Enzo Maresca had the first chance for Sevilla after four minutes when he bamboozled David Garcia inside the area before firing a shot that was tipped over by Espanyol keeper Gorka Iraizoz. In the 17th minute, Moises Hurtado sent a long-range drive that was collected by Sevilla guardian Palop.
Sevilla were ahead one minute later when Palop's long throw out released Adriano down the left flank before the Brazilian winger outpaced Pablo Zabaleta to collect the ball and go on one-on-one before hitting a right-footed shot into the left bottom corner. Riera leveled the score in the 28th minute after he cut inside and sidestepped Ales, who made an attempt to make up for his mistake but only managed to deflect the Spanish midfielder's shot into the back of the net. Palop was called to action 11 minutes after re-start, as he brilliantly blocked Raul Tamudo's close-range effort. Espanyol's hopes suffered a huge blow in the 68th minute when Hurtado was sent-off for a second bookable offense following a reckless challenge from behind on Alexander Kerzhakov, who was introduced instead of the ineffective Luis Fabiano. In the 78th minute, Alves' through pass picked out Renato, whose first touch went into the path of Kerzhakov but the Russian striker fired poorly wide from close range. Kanoute put Sevilla ahead just before the end of the first period of extra time when he cut ahead of his marker to convert home Jesus Navas' low cross from the right flank. Sevilla then dominated the game but wasted a host of opportunities to put Espanyol to the sword with some careless finishes. Espanyol punished the Rojiblancos and equalized in the 115th minute through Jonatas' fierce long-range bullet which left Palop with no chance.
