Sometimes you really can’t script it any better.
Emi Martinez, on his first match in France since enraging the nation, was again the penalty shoot-out hero as Villa scraped through to their first European semi-final since 1982.
That sparked more confusion thanks to the little known rule cards are re-set at the start of a shoot-out. Martinez made his winning penalty save with riot police behind the goal and was mobbed by the entire Villa squad. Lille were better from the get go and within 15 minutes had levelled the tie Leny Yoro picked out Gudmundsson’s run with a crossfield pass and his cross pulled behind the retreating Villa defence was into the path of Yazici, who curled a low finish into the bottom corner. Martinez did not move.
But defending corners had been an issue for Villa all through the tie and midway through the second half trouble struck again when Andre got ahead of Watkins and several other visiting players to flick Haraldsson’s delivery in off the bar and post.
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