Emiliano Martinez leads Aston Villa to victory in penalty shootout against Lille
Emiliano “Drawing” Martinez once again proved his worth as he helped Aston Villa secure a spot in the semi-finals of the Conference League after a tense penalty shootout against Lille. The Argentine goalkeeper made crucial saves during the match, stopping two executions and even silencing the home fans with his gestures.
The match, which was filled with emotions and goals, went into extra time before heading into the nerve-wracking penalty shootout. Despite receiving a yellow card for his actions, Martinez’s heroics ultimately led Aston Villa to victory.
However, Martinez’s performance came at a cost as he will be suspended for the first leg of the semi-finals after accumulating three cards in two consecutive games. UEFA informed the club about the suspension upon their return to England.
It is important to note that yellow cards shown during the match, including extra time, do not carry over to the penalty shootout according to the IFAB rules. This means that Martinez’s actions during the shootout did not lead to a red card but rather a suspension for the upcoming match.
The first leg of the Conference League semi-finals between Aston Villa and Olympiacos is set to take place on Thursday, May 2 at Villa Park, with Martinez set to return for the second leg in Greek territory a week later. Aston Villa fans will be eagerly awaiting Martinez’s return as they aim to secure a spot in the final.