Matty Cash scored Aston Villa’s equalizer that sent extra time against Lille. Later, he netted in the penalty shootout which Villa won. Photo: Christophe Ena / AP / NTB
By NTB | 18.04.2024 21:43:23
Sport: The English visitors coped best with the pressure and took a 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout. Overall, it ended 3-3 over two games.
Both teams had missed once before Lille’s captain Benjamin André had to score as the home team’s fifth penalty kick. The attempt was saved by Emiliano Martinez.
Lille led 2-0 and looked set to advance with a few minutes left in normal time. Then Matty Cash appeared and tapped in Villa’s cut from 20 yards. The shot went in via an opponent.
Up front, Lille clawed it until goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier collided with a teammate and lost the ball.
Earlier in the match, Yusuf Yazici scored with the inside of his left foot after 15 minutes, while André headed in 2-0 from a corner halfway into the second half.
Aston Villa’s promotion is an upturn for the Premier League in Europe. It came the day after both Manchester City and Arsenal disappeared from the Champions League quarter-finals.
Unai Emery could become the first manager to lead Aston Villa to a title since the Birmingham club won the League Cup in 1996.
There were also extra rounds in Italy when Fiorentina beat Czech Viktoria Plzen 2-0. Overall, it ended with the same figures.
(©NTB)