Villarreal win Europa League as David De Gea pays the penalty

Villarreal claimed the UEFA Europa League on Wednesday, their first major European title in dramatic circumstances, goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli saving the 22nd kick of a marathon penalty shoot-out from Manchester United opposite number David De Gea in Gdansk.

Villarreal, in their first major European final, were pushed back in the opening stages, although they defended in numbers and Yeremi Pino twice had glimpses of the United goal. The English side failed to heed the threat, and were caught out in the 29th minute as Dani Parejo floated a free-kick into the penalty area and Gerard Moreno lost Victor Lindelöf to flick beyond David De Gea.

In front of 9,500 supporters, Gerard Moreno met Daniel Parejo's free-kick to steer home his 30th goal in all competitions to give the Spanish side a first-half lead.

Gerard Moreno gave the Spanish side a first half lead against the run of play

United, who won the competition under Jose Mourinho in 2017, were indebted once again to the razor-sharp finishing of Edinson Cavani, who struck his 16th goal in his last 11 Europa League starts to haul his side level (55).

It was one of just two shots on target from United as extra time failed to illuminate a poor contest, but Geronimo Rulli would prove the hero during a pulsating shootout, first converting his own penalty before keeping out De Gea's effort as Unai Emery clinched a fourth Europa League title.

Villarreal arrived in Gdansk unbeaten in their 14 Europa League matches, winning 12, while it was 20 years ago that an English side vanquished an opponent from La Liga in a European final - losing all nine previous occasions dating back to Liverpool's UEFA Cup triumph over Alaves in 2001.

Marcus Rashford, one of just two survivors from the United side that beat Ajax in the final four years ago, teed up Scott McTominay for an early shot from the edge of the box but he dragged his effort well wide.

Solskjaer's men had already knocked out two Spanish sides -- Real Sociedad and Granada -- en route to the final, and Villarreal were struggling to get out of their own half in the opening quarter of an hour.

Villarreal players throw their coach Unai Emery in the air to celebrate their victory

Emery, who won it three times in a row with Sevilla, continued to look agitated as Luke Shaw collected Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross with his fizzed shot just evading the studs of Bruno Fernandes.

Villarreal absorbed the early threat and began to impose themselves via a spate of Daniel Parejo corners. On one such occasion when United failed to clear, Carlos Bacca's dexterous rabona cross was headed over Pau Torres.

Emery had shown no hesitation in calling on Yeremi Pino; aged 18 years and 218 days, he became the youngest ever Spanish player to start a major European final, breaking the previous record held by Iker Casillas, and he fired a warning sign with a snapshot moments before United fell behind.

Moreno hung on Shaw's shoulder before his darting run inside pinned Victor Lindelof as the striker stuck out a leg to meet Parejo's free-kick and stab his shot beyond De Gea at the far post. It was his 30th goal in all competitions this season and perhaps the easiest as the inquest began into United's slack defending.

Solskjaer stepped out from his technical area, a forlorn figure with his arms outstretched, as he berated an increasingly dispiriting opening period which very nearly had a happy ending as Mason Greenwood escaped

Alfonso Pedraza down the right with his firm cross deflecting off Raul Albiol into the grateful arms of Geronimo Rulli.

Villarreal had only conceded two goals away from home in the competition, however, and threatened a second on 48 minutes as a slip by Eric Bailly very nearly allowed Moreno to scramble the ball home from close range.

Geronimo Rulli emerged hero of the night by saving David De Gea's kick 

Villarreal had clearly done their homework, as they survived a faint penalty appeal and a VAR check when Greenwood went down holding his foot following a challenge from Pedraza. There was more intensity to United's play, and they would draw level on 55 minutes.

Shaw's corner was cleared only as far as Marcus Rashford, whose mishit ricocheted kindly for Cavani to instinctively finish. Once more, referee Clement Turpin consulted VAR Francois Letexier for offside, but the goal stood.

Cavani had done extremely well to get back onside as yellow shirts flooded out of the box, and United went in search of an instant second as Fernandes struck a loose ball across goal, flashing inches away from the predatory Cavani.

Villarreal were beginning to tire as Rashford scuffed a glorious chance wide of Rulli's post from Fernandes' cross on 70 minutes, although the linesman's flag spared the Englishman's blushes, with Torres then in the right place to block Cavani's improvised header from Shaw's wayward shot.

Villarreal's second-half forays were sporadic with Moreno missing the target from a distance -- their first attempt since the break to United's six. The momentum was with United as McTominay drove them forward in search of a late winner, feeding Shaw down the left before his cross was headed over by Paul Pogba.

It was Villarreal's turn to show their frustration when Torres failed to bend his shot from Mario Gaspar's cut-back inside the post as Turpin signalled for extra time.

Emery had made five alterations up until this point while Solskjaer still had all five of his substitutes to call upon.

It felt somewhat strange given the intensity of the opening 15 minutes of additional time as one of those Villarreal reinforcements, former Liverpool defender Alberto Moreno, sliced a shot wide from the angle.

The game was developing into a war of attrition, with Paco Alcacer's rushed finish the last act before Fred was introduced for the fading Greenwood. The momentum had shifted back to Emery's side but with their opponents subdued, penalties felt an inevitability. 

United had experienced just why Villarreal had gone the whole competition unbeaten; the last time the Europa League was decided by a shootout was back in 2014, when Emery was manager of Sevilla -- overcoming Benfica 4-2 following a goalless draw.

De Gea hadn't saved a Premier League penalty for six-and-a-half years, and he didn't come close to keeping out any of Villarreal's efforts in a thrilling shootout that was decided in dramatic circumstances as following 20 successful spot-kicks, Rulli blasted home his penalty before saving from De Gea.