Twelve years on, the ‘Mbiazo’ that sent Sevilla to Turin still echoes | OneFootball

Twelve years on, Sevilla still cherish the ‘Mbiazo’, Stephane Mbia’s stoppage time header at Mestalla that carried them into the 2014 Europa League final, a moment AS highlights as central to the club’s modern folklore.

Unai Emery’s side had won 2-0 in Nervión but trailed 3-0 in Valencia. In the final seconds, a Coke throw was flicked on by Federico Fazio and Mbia, on the edge of the six-yard box, headed in for 3-1. The away-goals rule, then in force but since scrapped, sent Sevilla through.

Mestalla, already singing about a trip to Turin, fell silent as about 5,000 travelling supporters erupted, and so did Seville some 700 kilometres away.

Goalkeeper Beto later suggested it might have been the goal that smashed most televisions in both cities, then he became the hero of the Turin final against Benfica, saving in the shootout as Sevilla lifted their third Europa League.

Two years ago the club invited Mbia back to the Sánchez-Pizjuán, where the Cameroonian greeted supporters on the pitch and recalled the first of May and that unforgettable finish against Valencia.

After four years without silverware since the 2010 Copa del Rey, the Mbiazo prefaced a new golden run, three straight Europa Leagues under Emery. Remarkably, the 2014 triumph followed a ninth-place league finish the previous season. Sevilla only entered the competition because Rayo Vallecano and Málaga were barred for financial fair play breaches.

Source: AS