Category: UEFA Europa Conference League

Aston Villa are through to a major European semi-final for the first time since 1982 after squeezing past Lille on penalties in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Emi Martinez – booed from the outset in northern France after his penalty heroics and histrionics in the 2022 World Cup final – saved two penalties and was shown two yellow cards on the night he proved to be Villa’s saviour.

Their other saviour was Matty Cash, who scored a goal from nothing in the 87th minute to send the tie to extra time, capitalising on a goalkeeping error.

Lille’s Yusuf Yazici had opened the scoring with a fine first-time finish inside 15 minutes to make it 2-2 on aggregate and captain Benjamin Andre gave them the lead from a corner.

Yet Lille could not hold onto that lead and it was Andre who failed to score the final penalty of a dramatic shoot-out which also saw Martinez shown a yellow card for taunting the crowd, but not a red, as his earlier booking for time-wasting did not carry over to penalties.

Aston Villa were well below their usual performance levels and looked a shadow of the team who won 2-0 at Arsenal on Sunday. Unai Emery made only three changes, but his side were unrecognisable.

Yet they found a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, first through Cash’s opportunistic aggregate equaliser and then by coming through the shootout. As soon as they game went to penalties and Martinez was thrust into the spotlight, it felt written that Villa would win and their controlled showing in extra time was cast in a more positive light.

Fourth in the Premier League and through to a first major European semi-final since 1982 – when they won the European Cup. It is a great time to be an Aston Villa fan.

Made two huge saves in the shootout, when smaller characters could have wilted under the pressure and distain rolling off the crowd. On a night when hardly any Villa players lived up to expectations, Martinez did exactly what you think he would in a shootout in his own unique, confrontational way.

Lille: Chevalier 5, Santos 7, Yoro 8, Diakite 7, Ismaily 6, Bentaleb 7, Andre 7, Yazici 7, Haraldsson 6, Gudmundsson 7, David 5. Subs: Gomes 5, Cavaleiro 4, Cabella 5

Aston Villa: Martinez 8, Cash 6, Konsa 6, Torres 6, Digne 5, Luiz 5, McGinn 4, Tielemans 5, Zaniolo 5, Diaby 4, Watkins 5. Subs: Rogers 5, Bailey 6, Duran 6,

GOAL! LILLE 1-0 (2-2) ASTON VILLA (YAZICI) 15′ – A Lille long ball finds Gudmundsson on the left flank. He sends in a low cross and Yazici – at the top of the box – applies a fine first-time finish which is by Martinez in a flash.

GOAL! LILLE 2-0 (3-2) ASTON VILLA (ANDRE) 67′ – Lille take the overall lead from a corner! Haraldsson’s in-swinger is flicked on at the near post by Andre and it goes in off the crossbar.

GOAL! LILLE 2-1 (3-3) ASTON VILLA (CASH) 87′ – A goal out of nothing! The Lille goalkeeper collides with own player and spills a cross, Duran’s shot is blocked but the rebound comes to Cash, who drills home.

BIG CHANCE! 90+4′ – Diakite has a free header at a corner, but sends the ball straight at Martinez.

SAVE! 120′ – Duran turns and shoots brilliantly, but Chevalier is equal to it and makes a great save with his feet.

VILLA WIN ON PENALTIES! Martinez saves Lille’s first spot kick and their last one – both diving to his left – and Villa win the shootout 4-3!

More to follow…

Aston Villa are through to a major European semi-final for the first time since 1982 after squeezing past Lille on penalties in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Emi Martinez – booed from the outset in northern France after his penalty heroics and histrionics in the 2022 World Cup final – saved two penalties and was shown two yellow cards on the night he proved to be Villa’s saviour.

Their other saviour was Matty Cash, who scored a goal from nothing in the 87th minute to send the tie to extra time, capitalising on a goalkeeping error.

Lille’s Yusuf Yazici had opened the scoring with a fine first-time finish inside 15 minutes to make it 2-2 on aggregate and captain Benjamin Andre gave them the lead from a corner.

Yet Lille could not hold onto that lead and it was Andre who failed to score the final penalty of a dramatic shoot-out which also saw Martinez shown a yellow card for taunting the crowd, but not a red, as his earlier booking for time-wasting did not carry over to penalties.

Aston Villa were well below their usual performance levels and looked a shadow of the team who won 2-0 at Arsenal on Sunday. Unai Emery made only three changes, but his side were unrecognisable.

Yet they found a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, first through Cash’s opportunistic aggregate equaliser and then by coming through the shootout. As soon as they game went to penalties and Martinez was thrust into the spotlight, it felt written that Villa would win and their controlled showing in extra time was cast in a more positive light.

Fourth in the Premier League and through to a first major European semi-final since 1982 – when they won the European Cup. It is a great time to be an Aston Villa fan.

Made two huge saves in the shootout, when smaller characters could have wilted under the pressure and distain rolling off the crowd. On a night when hardly any Villa players lived up to expectations, Martinez did exactly what you think he would in a shootout in his own unique, confrontational way.

Lille: Chevalier 5, Santos 7, Yoro 8, Diakite 7, Ismaily 6, Bentaleb 7, Andre 7, Yazici 7, Haraldsson 6, Gudmundsson 7, David 5. Subs: Gomes 5, Cavaleiro 4, Cabella 5

Aston Villa: Martinez 8, Cash 6, Konsa 6, Torres 6, Digne 5, Luiz 5, McGinn 4, Tielemans 5, Zaniolo 5, Diaby 4, Watkins 5. Subs: Rogers 5, Bailey 6, Duran 6,

GOAL! LILLE 1-0 (2-2) ASTON VILLA (YAZICI) 15′ – A Lille long ball finds Gudmundsson on the left flank. He sends in a low cross and Yazici – at the top of the box – applies a fine first-time finish which is by Martinez in a flash.

GOAL! LILLE 2-0 (3-2) ASTON VILLA (ANDRE) 67′ – Lille take the overall lead from a corner! Haraldsson’s in-swinger is flicked on at the near post by Andre and it goes in off the crossbar.

GOAL! LILLE 2-1 (3-3) ASTON VILLA (CASH) 87′ – A goal out of nothing! The Lille goalkeeper collides with own player and spills a cross, Duran’s shot is blocked but the rebound comes to Cash, who drills home.

BIG CHANCE! 90+4′ – Diakite has a free header at a corner, but sends the ball straight at Martinez.

SAVE! 120′ – Duran turns and shoots brilliantly, but Chevalier is equal to it and makes a great save with his feet.

VILLA WIN ON PENALTIES! Martinez saves Lille’s first spot kick and their last one – both diving to his left – and Villa win the shootout 4-3!

More to follow…