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:
FULL-TIME! Lille 2-1 Aston Villa (Villa win 4-3 on penalties)
Martinez is speaking to TNT Sports.
He says that “it’s been a hell of a ride”, and that he is a believer, and it is “my destiny to be here again”.
He says that the other ‘keeper was doing the same stuff as him, and he was simply asking for a ball when he was booked.
“I own my career, I own my performances. I know my team needs me.
“This group of players and the manager, it’s really special. It feels like we’re going to do something special, and we’ll try to do everything we can.”
Emiliano Martinez saves two penalties as Aston Villa reach Europa Conference League semis
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.
Martinez saves two penalties as Aston Villa beat Lille to reach semis
Lille 2-1 Villa (agg 3-3, pens 3-4): Yusuf Yazici and Benjamin Andre overturned Villa’s first-leg advantage before Matty Cash sent it to extra time
What’s next for Villa
After tonight’s celebrations, Villa’s attention will turn to a weekend game against Bournemouth, before hosting Chelsea on 27 April.
The first leg of their semi-final tie will take place at Villa Park on 2 May, with the return leg away a week later.
In the game to decide their opponents, Fenerbahce are 1-0 up on the night, with the tie level at 3-3 on aggregate as they approach half-time.
FULL-TIME! Lille 2-1 Aston Villa (Villa win 4-3 on penalties)
FULL-TIME! Lille 2-1 Aston Villa (Villa win 4-3 on penalties)
And that is that! Villa are through to the semi-finals of a European competition for the first time since 1982.
Not even the most ardent Villa fan would argue they deserved it on the night, but they’ve done it on penalties.
Lille fans and players look shellshocked, but it’s Villa who’ll face Olympiacos or Fenerbahce in the semis.
PENALTIES: Lille 3-4 Aston Villa
Captain Benjamin Andre to take next! He fires it down to the right and Martinez saves! There’s a quick check but there’s no re-take, and Martinez sends Aston Villa through to the semi-finals!
PENALTIES: Lille 3-4 Aston Villa
Told that the initial yellow for Martinez doesn’t carry over to the shootout, hence why the Argentinian is still on.
Douglas Luiz is next in line to take. A long run-up, he stutters, and he fires it low and into the bottom left corner. Excellent penalty.
PENALTIES: Lille 3-3 Aston Villa
Cabella steps up. Another cool penalty, as he slots it down the middle and Lille are level in the shootout for now!
PENALTIES: Lille 2-3 Aston Villa
Leon Bailey steps up and shoots low and to the right, but Chevalier saves!
PENALTIES: Lille 2-3 Aston Villa
Angel Gomes steps up and puts his penalty in the same place as Cash. Solid effort.
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