Before Emiliano Martínez even received a booking for time-wasting just 39 minutes into this thrilling knockout clash, there was an undeniable sense of destiny surrounding the Aston Villa goalkeeper. And destiny it was, as Martínez emerged as the true hero, delivering stunning saves against Nabil Bentaleb and Benjamin André in a nail-biting 4-3 penalty shootout triumph. This dramatic victory came after Matty Cash’s late strike leveled the playing field, forcing the game into extra time and ultimately sealing Lille’s fate of not advancing.
As Martínez basked in the adulation of his teammates, with Morgan Rogers even leaping onto his back in celebration, Aston Villa’s ecstatic players charged towards their jubilant fans, whose cheers echoed from high up in the stands. But this tale of triumph is only half the saga.
The entire match reached a fever pitch, with Martínez at its epicenter. Reveling in his role as the antagonist, Martínez faced off against a French side for the first time since his heroic exploits in the World Cup for Argentina, where he famously denied Kingsley Coman from the penalty spot in Qatar. He continued his theatrics on the field, with every touch drawing jeers from the home crowd. Already carrying a yellow card, Martínez found himself cautioned once more by referee Ivan Kruzliak during the penalty shootout, amidst accusations of gamesmanship – a touch of shithousery, some might say. However, he managed to avoid being sent off, sparing Villa the unprecedented scenario of being goalkeeper-less for the remainder of the shootout, as yellow cards do not carry over into penalties. At the time, uncertainty hung in the air, but Martínez stood firm, his resolve matching his remarkable saves.
After thwarting Bentaleb’s attempt, Martínez didn’t hold back, turning to hush the Lille supporters behind his goal. His actions only fueled the already charged atmosphere, and as Ollie Watkins stepped up for his spot-kick, Martínez continued to goad the home crowd. The referee intervened, cautioning Martínez once more for his persistent attempts to antagonize the fans. Martínez acknowledged that his reputation preceded him, pointing out that his counterpart, Lucas Chevalier, was also guilty of time-wasting during the match.
“It was my destiny to win here,” Martínez declared. “Throughout my career, I’ve always relied on my teammates in these moments. Even last night when we were watching Real Madrid, the manager mentioned the possibility of penalties, and in those crucial moments, I rely on my box.”
With this victory, Villa secures a spot in the semi-finals of a major European tournament for the first time since 1982, where they will face Olympiakos. Before the shootout, Unai Emery desperately signaled for calm, but as Martínez confidently strolled around his box with the ball at his feet, expertly provoking the home support once again, it seemed inevitable that penalties were on the horizon. Martínez’s self-assuredness and his strategic antics once again proved fruitful.
Until Matty Cash’s deflected strike found the top corner in the 87th minute, courtesy of a fortunate deflection off a Lille defender, Villa seemed destined for elimination, trailing to Yusuf Yazici’s fine first-time strike and an André header. In all honesty, Villa had little grounds for complaint. However, Lucas Digne, who began his career at Lille, floated a high ball in from the left, and under pressure from Villa substitute Jhon Durán, goalkeeper Chevalier faltered as he attempted to claim the cross. Amidst the chaos, Bentaleb inadvertently collided with Chevalier in the scramble to clear the danger, and Cash seized the opportunity with a powerful strike from outside the box.
Villa entered the match riding the wave of arguably their most significant triumph of the season, a stunning victory over Arsenal. However, they failed to replicate that performance on the field. It wasn’t until 11 minutes into the second half, following one of two changes for Villa, that Cash managed their first genuine attempt on goal. He unleashed a powerful shot that rattled against the side netting after connecting with a clever backheel from John McGinn. As full time approached, Cash attempted another long-range effort, and his persistence paid off just minutes later, as he finally struck gold.
Even McGinn, typically one of Villa’s most reliable players, struggled to find his rhythm, and with Villa’s captain not at his best, it came as little surprise when Durán was brought on in his place with 10 minutes of regular time remaining. Douglas Luiz, who had been suspended for the Arsenal match, tried his luck with a free-kick just before halftime, but his effort sailed safely into the gloves of Chevalier. Digne attempted something similar shortly after. In contrast, Martínez appeared to relish every moment on the pitch.
“We still have time,” Leon Bailey reassured his teammates, motioning towards the large screens at either end of the stadium after replacing the ineffective Moussa Diaby in the 68th minute. Bailey’s words proved prophetic as Cash’s equalizer ignited Villa’s fighting spirit. Chevalier then pulled off an extraordinary save with his right hand to deny Douglas Luiz a header during extra time.
The Brazilian’s disbelief was palpable as he dragged his white shirt over his face, but little did he know, the real drama was only just unfolding.
