Emiliano Martinez stars as Aston Villa beat Lille on penalties

Emiliano Martinez Saves the Day as Aston Villa Reach Europa Conference League Semis

Aston Villa edged their way into the Europa Conference League semi-finals after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Lille in France. The final score was 3-3 on aggregate, but Emiliano Martinez emerged as the hero, saving two penalties in the shootout.

Martinez Shines Again

The Argentinian goalkeeper, fresh off his World Cup heroics, replicated that form by denying Nabil Bentaleb and Benjamin Andre from the penalty spot. While his “dark arts” drew the ire of the French crowd, his crucial saves secured victory for Villa. A yellow card during the shootout caused temporary confusion, but thankfully for Villa, it didn’t affect his participation.

Villa Edged Out After Dominant Lille Display

Despite the win, Villa were fortunate to progress. Lille dominated the second leg, overturning a 2-1 deficit with goals from Yusuf Yazici and Benjamin Andre. Matty Cash’s late strike in the 87th minute forced extra time, where neither team could find a breakthrough.

Unai Emery’s European Pedigree Continues

This victory marks Unai Emery’s eighth consecutive European quarter-final win. The Spaniard, known for his success in the Europa League with Sevilla and Villarreal, will be hungry to add another European trophy to his collection.

Lille’s Missed Opportunity

While Villa were celebrating a dramatic win, Lille were left to rue their missed chances. Fresh from a weekend off due to a cancelled Ligue 1 fixture, they started strong and took the lead in the 15th minute. Emiliano Martinez made several crucial saves throughout the match, denying Lille a more comfortable lead.

Late Drama and Penalty Heroics

Villa finally threatened in the second half, but it was a late goalkeeping error from Lucas Chevalier that gifted them a lifeline. Cash capitalized on the mistake to send the game into extra time. Neither team managed to score in the additional period, setting the stage for Martinez’s penalty heroics.

Villa will now face a new challenge in the semi-finals, while Lille’s European dream comes to an end.