Aston Villa vs PSG LIVE: Result and reaction as hosts fall just short in Champions League thriller
Aston Villa 3-2 PSG (agg. 4-5): The hosts came close in a compelling comeback but could not find an equaliser
A remarkable, riotous comeback from Aston Villa fell just short as Paris Saint-Germain clung on to progress to the Champions League semi-finals.
The French capital club looked to be cruising into the last four when they struck twice in the opening half-hour, through full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, to double their advantage in the tie after securing a 3-1 win in Paris last week.
But the hosts came roaring back at a raucous Villa Park. Youri Tielemans’s deflected effort before half time gave them hope before the tie appeared to turn in five second-half minutes as John McGinn and Ezri Konsa struck. It left Villa chasing an equaliser to take the encounter to extra time, and they had their chances - but Unai Emery’s side could not find a fourth, with PSG grateful to Gianluigi Donnarumma for a sprinkling of spectacular saves. They face either Arsenal or Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
Re-live all the Champions League action with our live blog below:
Aston Villa 3-2 PSG
62 mins: Caught your breath yet?
Villa looked all but dead and buried when they went two goals down. But here they are, within one of parity in the tie.
Enrique has brought on first leg hero Doue to try and shift the tide back in PSG’s favour.
Aston Villa 3-2 PSG
60 mins: SAVE! Tielemans forces Donnarumma into another immense save as his header forces the big keeper to make full-stretch stop to claw it away.
PSG are under IMMENSE pressure.
GOAL! Aston Villa 3-2 PSG
58 mins: GOAL! VILLA ARE IN TOUCHING DISTANCE!
Marcus Rashford dances into the box and puts it on a plate for Ezri Konsa, who tucks home into the bottom corner to put Villa to within one!
Rashford nearly bagged one himself moments earlier but forced a stunning save out of Donnarumma.
THIS IS INCREDIBLE.
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-2 PSG
55 mins: GOAL! WHAT A STRIKE, JOHN MCGINN!
The Villa skipper drives towards the box and has a pop from range, with his effort taking a slight deflection to fly over Donnarumma into the top corner!
Villa are level on the night and within two of parity in the tie. They couldn’t, could they?!
Aston Villa 1-2 PSG
53 mins: NO GOAL! PSG break on the counter once again and Dembele is slipped through with a clear run on goal.
The Villa players want a flag but it only come once the Frenchman has dinked Martinez and put the ball in the net. VAR confirms the decision.
That came just after the ball very nearly fell to Rashford for a tap in - Donnarumma got a big touch there to put him off.
Aston Villa 1-2 PSG
51 mins: It’s the visiting fans that have been making the noise since the restart. They haven’t stopped singing.
Aston Villa 1-2 PSG
49 mins: Half-chance for Villa as Digne whips in towards McGinn on the corner six-yard box - the Scot can’t quite guide his flick into the far corner and it goes high and wide.
You wonder if McGinn could have had a pop when it opened up for him earlier in the move.
Aston Villa 1-2 PSG
48 mins: Hakimi dispossesses Torres down the right and gets pulled down to prevent the break.
The Moroccan is annoyed Torres hasn’t been booked for that.
BACK UNDERWAY! Aston Villa 1-2 PSG
46 mins: BACK UNDERWAY! Here we go again.
The odds are very much against Aston Villa, but crazier comebacks have happened. Just ask Unai Emery.
HALF-TIME! Aston Villa 1-2 PSG
Aston Villa won’t be the only team hopeful of a miraculous comeback in the second half tonight.
Borussia Dortmund are similarly facing a three-goal deficit against Barcelona, but are 1-0 up at the break having also had a goal disallowed.
Drama still to come?
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