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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Your support makes all the difference.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 1-0 Aston Villa
18 mins: Not necessarily a deserved goal, but Lille have certainly been on top so far and that was excellently worked. The home side have dominated midfield, and Villa haven’t really been able to get into the game.
McGinn wins a free-kick on the right and Villa have the chance to respond, but it’s out for a corner.
GOAL! Lille 1-0 Aston Villa
15 mins: GOAL!! And Lille are ahead on the night, and level in the tie!
A goal from nothing really. Both sides had been fighting to get into it, but the home side are suddenly ahead.
The long ball is played to Gudmundsson on the left wing. He brings it down and fizzes a half-volleyed cutback across the box, which Yazici just confidently sweeps into the bottom left corner!
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
11 mins: No clear-cut chances yet.
Haraldsson swings it over to Santos, but the full-back is offside.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
9 mins: And now first meaningful shot of the night! Bentaleb plays it into Yazici, who has made the run to the edge of the box, and he lays it off to Jonathan David. The Canadian’s shot flies over.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
8 mins: First corner of the night as Yazici and Haraldsson combine and force Digne to put it behind.
Martinez flaps at the original cross but he manages to palm it to McGinn from the loose ball!
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
6 mins: Bentaleb is the latest to swing a ball into the box, but Martinez collects under no pressure.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
5 mins: Andre wins the ball back well in midfield, sliding past Zaniolo, and now Lille have the ball.
The ball is lofted into the box and almost lands near the feet of Gudmundsson, but Villa clear.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
4 mins: Villa’s first meaningful attack sees Watkins and Zaniolo combine, but McGinn’s scooped ball in is wasteful.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
2 mins: Boos continue whenever Martinez gets the ball, which is quite a lot as Villa keep the ball in their half early on.
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