Lille vs Aston Villa LIVE: Europa Conference League result and reaction after Villa win on penalties
The Europa Conference League quarter-final is still up for grabs after a tight first-leg last week
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Emiliano Martinez was the unsurprising star of a dramatic penalty shootout as Aston Villa edged past Lille and into the semi-final of the Europa Conference League.
The Argentina goalkeeper, who helped his country win the World Cup 18 months ago, produced some similar heroics in France, saving spot-kicks from Nabil Bentaleb and Benjamin Andre to earn a 4-3 shootout win after the quarter-final had ended 3-3 on aggregate after two legs.
There was plenty of his trademark dark arts on show as he shushed the baiting French crowd, who had not forgotten what happened in Qatar, and then caused confusion by receiving a yellow card from the referee in the middle of the shootout, having already been booked in normal time.
But bookings are not carried forward into the shootout meaning he could stay on and send Villa into a first European semi-final since 1982. Follow all the reaction below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
ET: Lille 2-1 Aston Villa
116 mins: Lille are on top as we creep towards penalties. Chevalier sends a free-kick long but Villa clear.
ET: Lille 2-1 Aston Villa
114 mins: Konsa does well to intercept but he gives it away to Ismaily. The Lille full-back wins the challenge and it bounces to Angel Gomes, who opts for the spectacular shot from outside the box, but it flies over.
ET: Lille 2-1 Aston Villa
112 mins: Less than 10 minutes until we face penalties. Santos plays in Cavaleiro, whose cross is a good one – it deflects off Cash’s arm and Lille want a penalty, but VAR deny it.
ET: Lille 2-1 Aston Villa
110 mins: Lille are enjoying a bit of possession now, just knocking it around and probing the Villa defence.
ET: Lille 2-1 Aston Villa
108 mins: Watkins is booked for an elbow to the face of Ismaily as the two battled for a high ball.
ET: Lille 2-1 Aston Villa
107 mins: First chance of the second period as Cavaleiro collects the cross from Ismaily, and lays it off to Santos. The full-back’s shot flies narrowly wide of the far post.
ET: Lille 2-1 Aston Villa
KICK-OFF! We’ve begun the second half of extra time.
ET: Lille 2-1 Aston Villa
104 mins: Torres is the latest to easily clear a tired Lille cross. Cabella – who came on earlier for Gudmundsson – clips in a first-time cross that Martinez collects, and it’s half-time in extra time.
ET: Lille 2-1 Aston Villa
102 mins: Bentaleb tries to clip in a ball to David, but Konsa is there to intercept. Soon after, Gomes skips past one challenge but his shot is blocked.
ET: Lille 2-1 Aston Villa
99 mins: CLOSE! How has this not gone in?
Digne spreads it wide to Bailey, who cuts inside and curls a shot. Chevalier saves fairly easily, but he palms it straight out to Luiz, who heads it straight back at the ‘keeper! Chevalier saves and tips it over for a corner.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments