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
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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:
Lille 2-0 Aston Villa
84 mins: Villa are managing to keep possession now, but Rogers is second to a ball in the Lille box and the home side have a free-kick.
Yazici comes off for Ivan Cavaleiro.
Lille 2-0 Aston Villa
83 mins: The corner is cleared but now it’s Villa’s turn to keep the pressure on. Bailey swings at the half-volley on the edge of the box, but it rolls straight to Chevalier. That’s two shots on target now for Villa.
Lille 2-0 Aston Villa
81 mins: Cash lines up the long shot and hits it from around 25 yards, but it’s straight at Chevalier. Villa corner.
Lille 2-0 Aston Villa
79 mins: Villa are keeping the ball okay but are still lacking a decisive threat. 10 minutes left and Villa haven’t had a noteworthy chance.
Lille 2-0 Aston Villa
78 mins: Villa still toiling away, but nothing so far. Remember they only need one goal to take it to extra-time.
Bailey plays it to the overlapping Cash, but his clipped cross it easily cleared.
Jhon Duran comes on for McGinn.
Lille 2-0 Aston Villa
75 mins: Another booking as Rogers drags down Santos. From the free-kick, Haraldsson plays an inviting ball in, but Lille can’t convert.
Former Manchester United man Angel Gomes comes on for Haraldsson.
Lille 2-0 Aston Villa
73 mins: Villa are hunting the (tie) equaliser, but they still can’t create anything notable. They’ll get something before 90 minutes though.
Bailey collects but McGinn messes up the one-two opportunity.
Lille 2-0 Aston Villa
70 mins: The corner comes short but it’s cleared easily by the home side. Santos then shepherds the ball out for a goal kick.
Lille 2-0 Aston Villa
68 mins: Villa make the substitution as Diaby comes off for Leon Bailey, who immediately wins a corner.
GOAL! Lille 1-0 Aston Villa
67 mins: GOAL! From the corner, and it’s the man who’s been winning headers all evening!
Haraldsson swings in the corner and Andre is at the near post. He connects with the back of his head and directs it to the far post – it bounces in off the woodwork!
2-0 on the night, but crucially, Villa are now going out with the tie at 3-2 to Lille.
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