Aston Villa vs Olympiacos LIVE: Europa Conference League result and reaction after El Kaabi hat-trick in semi-final first leg
A first European semi-final since 1982 for the Villa Park club under Unai Emery
Aston Villa mounted a comeback either side of half-time but ultimately were far too open defensively and suffered a 4-2 defeat in the Europa Conference League semi-final first leg against Olympiacos.
Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby netted either side of the interval, during which there was a medical emergency involving a fan, after Ayoub El Kaabi had scored twice for the Greek outfit. However, the visiting forward then immediately netted a penalty for his hat-trick and Ezri Konsa deflected in another goal for Olympiacos’ fourth, before Douglas Luiz missed a late penalty to leave Villa a mountain to climb in the second leg.
Olympiacos remain chasing a double, fighting for the title in the Greek top flight, fourth place but only one point off second - and now they have one foot in the final in Europe, too. Follow the action from the first leg below and see the Aston Villa vs Olympiacos predictions and latest odds here.
75’ - Aston Villa 2-4 Olympiacos
Unai Emery trying to rouse his team and get them to lift their peformance once more.
A third goal for Villa here really would set the second leg up as a night of possibility - but if they leave space and get hit for a fifth here it would be all but over, surely.
70’ - Aston Villa 2-4 Olympiacos
Hosts have to push on again now and try and find a way back into the game. Luiz shoots from range but it’s weak and saved.
Villa sub: Duran on for Rogers
Olympiacos sub: Podence replaced by Horta
GOAL! 66’ - Aston Villa 2-4 Olympiacos
Oh disaster for Villa!
Konsa gets in the way of Hezze’s speculative shot and deflects it the wrong way to its original trajectory - and Olsen reacts far too slowly and can’t keep the ball out.
The goalkeeper gets a fist to the ball but it’s a strange attempt to stop the strike and he only flicks it into the opposite corner of the net...he really does have to do better there regardless of the deflection. 4-2 to Olympiacos who have restored their two-goal lead.
60’ - Aston Villa 2-3 Olympiacos
Almost 3-3 as Watkins runs through but can’t quite reach a pass, only for Tzolakis to whack his clearance straight at the striker - luckily for the keeper it diverts miles over the bar.
Club Brugge have equalised at Fiorentina again, 2-2 now, but the Belgians are also down to ten men.
GOAL! 55’ - Aston Villa 2-3 Olympiacos
El Kaabi with the hat-trick! He steps up, stays cool and rolls it home to the left, Olsen going the wrong way.
Villa were level for about four and a half minutes - now they have to come from behind once more.
PENALTY! 54’ - Aston Villa 2-2 Olympiacos
Crazy! Another twist in the tale - a corner goes deep in the Villa box and Retsos heads goalward - Luiz jumps in front of him with his arm up, the ball strikes his elbow and the ref immediately says penalty!
GOAL! 50’ - Aston Villa 2-2 Olympiacos
What a finish, out of nowhere! Diaby and Bailey combine down the right and it’s Diaby who absolutely smashes a belting finish past the keeper and in at the near post! Fantastic start to the second half for Villa and it’s 2-2 now.
Olympiacos’ lead wiped out in the minutes either side of half time.
46' - Aston Villa 1-2 Olympiacos
OK the players are now back out and we’re ready to go once more - hopefully all turns out well with the supporter who suffered a cardiac arrest. The medical teams have attended the matter and an ambulance was in waiting.
HT sub for Olympiacos - Omar Richards on for Francisco Ortega. We are back underway.
HT - Aston Villa 1-2 Olympiacos
Medical emergency in the stands at the moment and as such the restart is delayed. A short wait until the teams come back out, an announcement says.
Fans have been removed from part of the lower tier to allow medical access - no timeframe just yet for the restart.
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