Adriano's 18th-minute opener for Sevilla was cancelled out just 10 minutes later by Albert Riera before Espanyol midfielder Moises Hurtado was sent off 20 minutes before extra-time arrived.

Fredi Kanoute put Sevilla ahead before the turnaround but substitute Jonatas equalised again with four minutes remaining to take the match to penalties.

Sevilla keeper Andres Palop was the hero saving three penalties from Luis Garcia, Jonatas and Marc Torrejon with only Walter Pandiani scoring for Espanyol.

Sevilla were looking to become only the second club to retain the UEFA Cup when they took on Espanyol at rain-soaked Hampden Park.

Sevilla manager Juande Ramos, as expected, started with former Tottenham and West Ham star Frederic Kanoute and Luis Fabiano - who scored against Middlesbrough in the final last year - in attack.

Sevilla are third in La Liga and in the final of the Spanish Cup which made them favourites against an Espanyol side who travelled to Glasgow looking for their first European trophy.

Coach Ernesto Valverde sprung a surprise by leaving Walter Pandiani, who scored a hat-trick against Real Madrid last weekend, on the bench - his place taken by Raul Tamudo.

The rain had failed to dampen the spirits of the visiting Spaniards whose Espanyol-blue and more numerous Sevilla-red colours lit up the grey Glasgow sky.

The slick-moving Kanoute headed a whipped-in Adriano cross over the bar from around 12 yards out, while two minutes later at the other end Tamudo's toe-poke from David Garcia's cross failed to trouble Palop.

Moises Hurtado's fine low drive from distance after round 16 minutes, which Palop did well to hold, only confirmed the change in the game's direction.

That was, until about 60 seconds later, when Sevilla raced on the counter to take the lead.

With the Espanyol defence pushing forward to get the opener, Adriano sneaked past Pablo Javier Zabaleta on the left, before sliding a right-footed shot past Gorka Iraizoz into the far corner from about 10 yards.

HT Espanyol 1 Sevilla 1

Espanyol forced their way forward to try to grab a quick equaliser but succeeded only in leaving gaps which their La Liga rivals looked more than able to exploit.

However, in the 28th minute it was Sevilla's Brazilian right-back Daniel Alves who was caught out of position, allowing Espanyol to draw level through Albert Riera.

The former Manchester City midfielder picked up the ball wide on the left with plenty of time and space, turned inside the back-tracking Alves and fired a right-footed drive into the net off the far post.

An open game swayed from end to end and in the 39th minute Espanyol captain Tamudo tested Palop with a decent shot from distance, which the Sevilla goalkeeper again did well to control at the first time of asking.

In the 55th minute De la Pena's clever reverse pass on the edge of the Sevilla penalty area found Tamudo whose blistering shot drew a good save from Palop at the expense of the corner which came to nothing after the keeper was adjudged to have been fouled among a mass of bodies.

Seconds later, the popular Pandiani replaced Francisco Rufete to the cheers of the Espanyol fans.

There was hardly time to draw breath when Riera tried his luck with a dipping volley from distance which Palop tipped on to the bar and over for a corner.

Sevilla survived again but it appeared that the Catalan club were imbued with a sense of purpose that could take some stopping.

However, Espanyol's hopes took a massive nosedive when Moises was dismissed for a second booking in the 68th minute for a lunging tackle from behind on substitute Alexander Kerzhakov.

FT Espanyol 1 Sevilla 1 (extra-time being played)

The momentum returned towards Sevilla and in the 77th minute Kerzhakov blasted over from close range before captain Javi Navarro headed straight at Iraizoz from barely 10 yards out.

As Espanyol slowly wilted, Kanoute had a point-blank effort saved by Iraizoz and Kerzhakov hammered the rebound high over the bar from a tight angle.

Neither side could make a breakthrough in the closing stages - meaning the contest went to extra-time.


FT of extra-time Espanyol 2 Sevilla 2

Just before the break, Kanoute fired Sevilla ahead when he nicked substitute Jesus Navas' cross in at the near post.

Espanyol looked to have nothing left but with four minutes remaining substitute Jonatas, on for De la Pena, fired in a glorious equaliser from 30 yards.


(Sevilla won 3-1 on penalties)

Penalties duly arrived. Kanoute scored before Luis Garcia had his kick saved by Palop then Ivica Dragutinovic scored, as did Pandiani.

Alves blasted over the bar before Jonatas had his kick saved by Palop.

Antonio Puerta scored leaving Marc Torrejon under pressure but once again Palop saved to be the hero for Sevilla.