Spanish football

TURIN, Italy -- Penalty specialists Sevilla beat Benfica 4-2 in a shootout to win the Europa League after a 0-0 draw in the final on Wednesday, claiming another international title for Spanish football. Yeezy 700 Saldi . Sevilla goalkeeper Beto saved two spot kicks from Benfica forwards Oscar Cardozo and Rodrigo who failed to deceive with stutter-step approaches to the ball. Substitute Kevin Gameiro stepped up to score the decisive kick as the drama played out at the end housing Sevilla fans who have seen this story before. Sevilla had ousted city rival Real Betis on penalties in the last-16 round, and also won this competition in 2007 in a shootout. The Portuguese champion had dominated regulation time yet failed to score, and extended its streak of losing European finals to eight matches over 52 years. "The best team did not win," Benfica coach Jorge Jesus said. "Benfica players should be congratulated," Jesus said. "There is nothing I can criticize." Sevilla had seemed destined to win a competition it entered only after UEFA denied two Spanish clubs places because of financial problems. It had also been seconds from elimination in the semifinals against another Spanish team, Valencia. "We know how to suffer and we know how to fight. I think the result was fair," said Sevilla coach Unai Emery. "Its a very special evening." Sevilla, which won the competition for the third time in nine seasons, ensured Spain will sweep the season-ending European club competitions, with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid meeting in the Champions League final on May 24. Next month Spain will defend its World Cup crown in Brazil and seek to clinch a record fourth straight major international trophy after winning the European Championship in 2008 and 2012. Benfica, however, has not won a continental trophy since its greatest player, Eusebio, inspired two straight European Cup titles in 1961 and 62. Four months after Eusebio died aged 71, the Lisbon club missed another chance to end the unwanted record. Benfica returned to the scene of its semifinals triumph against Juventus and the match kicked off with patches of empty sets in the Italian champions stadium. Three early opportunities for Sevilla broke down for Carlos Baccas lack of finishing. The Colombia forward failed to shoot when collecting a pass across the goalmouth, drifted offside in a fast break started by captain Ivan Rakitic, and then could not connect with Rakitics angled low cross. A testy spell midway through the half lacked creativity, and even Rakitics shot from the centre circle drifted well wide of goal. Benfica ended the half strongly, aided by loose play in the heart of Sevillas defence. Sevilla relied on Beto for a double save, swatting away Maxi Pereiras looping shot from close range and then parrying Rodrigos low drive. Benfica claimed a penalty when Nicolas Gaitan fell under pressure from defender Federico Fazio who poked the ball barely wide of his own goal. Poor positional play by Sevilla defenders in the 48th was redeemed by three crucial blocks in the goalmouth as Lima, twice, and Rodrigo fired shots from 10 metres (yards). German referee Felix Brych rejected repeated Benfica penalty claims, with one clean tackle on Lima bringing a shower of flag sticks thrown by Portuguese fans behind Sevillas goal. At the other end, former Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes twice tested Jan Oblak around the hour mark with rising shots straight at the Benfica keeper. Sevilla needed another saving tackle in the 72th, when Coke denied Lima as the Brazilian shaped to connect with Maxi Pereiras lateral pass. Benfica again finished the half on top, and Beto leaped to tip over Limas shot in the 84th. When Beto then lost a deep cross, defender Ezequiel Garay headed over an empty Sevilla goal as the scoring chances continued to go begging. Bacca could have won it for Sevilla when breaking clear in the 101st minute but his rising shot flashed just wide. But Bacca, like his teammates, made no such mistake in the shootout - as Sevilla repeated its success on spotkicks in the 2007 UEFA Cup final against Espanyol. Yeezy 700 Outlet . Fans holding laudatory signs started showing up at Yankee Stadium when the gates opened at 4 p.m. Monday, an hour early in order to give them a chance to watch the New York captain take batting practice. Air Max 90 Italia . Aaron Hill and Cliff Pennington hit home runs in the first inning for the Diamondbacks, who beat the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Friday night.ST. PAUL, Minn. - Corey Crawford may have stolen two points for the Chicago Blackhawks with an impressive performance.Crawford made a season-high 42 saves, Bryan Bickell scored twice in the third period and the Blackhawks held on to beat the heavy-hearted Minnesota Wild 4-2 on Thursday night.That was a goalie win, Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. They were the better team tonight, for sure, and we dodged a bullet.Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane also scored for Chicago, which has won four of six. The Blackhawks remained two points behind Nashville in the Central Division.Jason Zucker and Jason Pominville scored for Minnesota, which has lost nine of 11.We were short. Thats the bottom line, Wild captain Mikko Koivu said. But I thought we had a good 60-minute effort from everyone, from the whole team, and thats what were going to need to get out of this.Facing a hot goaltender wouldnt hurt, either.Crawford was at his best in the final two periods when the Wild had 37 shots on goal.I was just trying to look around traffic and to battle as hard as I could through screens and stuff, especially on their power play, he said. They were playing with a lot of energy. We were able to weather the storm.He made a couple great saves for us at crucial times and thats what we need, Bickell said. We need to be better in front of him.The Wild played its second straight game without left wing Zach Parise. His father, former Minnesota North Star J.P. Parise, died Wednesday night after battling lung cancer.Zach Parise, who missed Tuesdays game to be with his family, has been designated as a non-roster player to give him time to grieve. A moment of silence was held before the game and Wild players wore 11 decals on their helmets.But Minnesota needed more than Parise.With Darcy Kuemper, who has started 27 of the Wilds 39 games, out at least a week with lower-body injury, Niklas Backstrom — entering the game 60th in the league with an .896 save percentage — got the call in goal.. Scarpe Nike Offerta Online. . He made 15 saves.Its not the easiest game to play as a goalie, he said. You have to find a way even if theres not a lot of chances and a lot of shots. When they got a shot, its very much a chance, so you have to find a way for that. You want to be better today.Backstrom might have been able to get a save on Chicagos first goal barely 5 minutes into the game. Sharp gathered a loose puck low in the left circle, cut to the net and tucked the puck behind the Wild goaltender. It marked the first time in seven games that Chicago scored the games first goal.Backstrom had almost no chance when Kane made it 2-0 with a power-play goal late in the period, converting from below the right circle before Backstrom could scurry back across the crease.Minnesotas slow start came one day after coach Mike Yeo laced an expletive-filled tirade at his team during an uninspired practice before breaking his stick over the boards and leaving the ice.We responded the right way, Pominville said. Our bench was positive. Our room was good. We did a lot of good things to give ourselves a chance to win, and if we play that way well probably win most of our games.The teams effort improved dramatically in the second period as the Wild controlled play, outshot Chicago 19-5, and scored the periods lone goal at 1:03.With Minnesota keeping sustained pressure in the offensive zone, Koivu sent a pass along the boards behind the goal to Pominville who passed to Zucker in the slot. Zuckers one-timer beat Crawford high for his team-leading 15th goal.NOTES: The teams meet again Sunday in Chicago. ... The Blackhawks are 14-1-0 when leading after one period; 14-0-0 when leading after two. ... Minnesota D Marco Scandella missed the game with an upper-body injury sustained Tuesday against San Jose. ... Wild F Jordan Schroeder, D Jonathan Blum and G John Curry were recalled from AHL Iowa. ... Chicago LW Daniel Carcillo returned. He was a healthy scratch the past two games. ' ' '