Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Sevilla
Raul Jimenez Missed penalty might have well cost Wolves their place in the Semi finals of the UEL as they fell at the hands of Sevilla 1-nil in Germany.
It was Wolves first European Quarter-final appearance since 1972, they had the chance to take the lead when Adama Traore was brought down in the penalty area after an impressive only for Raul Jimenez to surprisingly have his penalty saved by Yassine Bounou in the 13th minute.
Replays however showed that the goalkeeper was slightly off his line when the penalty was taken, but VAR did not took it to their strides to order for a replay. And from that moment it was Sevilla all the way, bossing possessions all the way keeping Wolves on the back foot as they searched for the killer blow.
The breakthrough came in the 88th minute when Lucas Ocampos headed in a scintillating cross from Ever Banega, enough to put Sevilla in the Semi finals.
Having come through three rounds of qualifiers that started 12 months ago, then the group stages and on to the knockouts, the journey to this stage had been a long one for Wolves, who started very brightly.
Traore surprisingly started through the middle with Raul Jimenez and his speed caused so many problems in the early stages for Sevilla.
It was him that created the first major moment in the match by winning the penalty. His direct run through the heart of the Sevilla defence that took him 70 yards was ended by a rash sliding challenge from Santos Silva inside the area.
Jimenez usually is the man for a high-pressure penalty but ruined his 100 per cent record from the spot for Wolves as Bounou didn’t fall for his slow run-up and palmed away a poor effort, although replays did show that the goalkeeper was slightly off his line when Jimenez made contact, plus the defender that cleared the ball was encroaching in the area.
However, VAR deemed the incident within the laws of the game and didn’t order a retake.
Joao Moutinho couldn’t convert the rebound either as Sevilla survived a major scare.
It has been a great season for Wolves, but losing form at such a critical time as this wasn’t helpful at all. A form which also saw finished seventh in the league this season. They will now be absent from Europe next season.
Meanwhile Sevilla who are no strangers to Europa league glory will lock horns with Manchester United in the Semi Finals on August 16th at the RheinEnergieStadion for a place in the finals on August 21.
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