No professional intervention by
Emiliano Martínez
will reach as high as the one he starred in just over a year ago in the final of the Qatar World Cup against Randal Kolo Muani.
However, since then there have been several actions by the Argentine goalkeeper that have resulted in positive results for his team, such as the one against the French striker.
This Saturday, the man from Mar del Plata did it again,
saving Aston Villa's 2-1 victory against Fulham
with a huge save in added time of the duel corresponding to the 25th round of the Premier League.
Just a few seconds after the clock crossed the 90-minute border and when his team was clinging tooth and nail to the victory,
Martínez found himself face to face with Adama Traoré
after a pass filtered by the Brazilian Rodrigo Muniz.
The Spaniard defined the near post with power, but the goalkeeper's left foot prevented the second fall of his fence.
That action by the carcerbero formed in Independiente
allowed Aston Villa to stay with a victory at the Craven Cottage stadium
for which they had done ample merit in the first hour of play and for which they had to suffer in the last 30 minutes against an opponent who won only one of their last five games.
Striker
Ollie Watkins
was the great figure of the team led by the Spanish Unai Emery and the author of the two goals.
The first, in the opening chapter, taking advantage of a terrible start from a Fulham throw-in and with a precise turnaround that left German goalkeeper Bernd Leno with no chance.
The second, in the complement, with a powerful right cross that put the finishing touch to a great collective maneuver that had as its penultimate touch a fine assist from the Belgian Youri Tielemans.
DRAWING MARTÍNEZ, LIKE DRAWING MARTÍNEZ ABOUT THE TIME!!
THE BEST!!
📺 Watch the #Premier on #ESPNenStarPlus pic.twitter.com/jJkQYz0SUb
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) February 17, 2024
With these two goals, Watkins reached 13 in this edition of the Premier League and is only surpassed by the Norwegian Erling Haaland (16), from Manchester City;
the Egyptian Mohamed Salah (15), from Liverpool, and the Englishman Dominic Solanke (14), from Bournemouth.
Lost for lost, the local team did the rest in the final half hour,
scored with a goal from Rodrigo Muniz
and managed to equalize.
Then Martínez came into action, first to neutralize a shot by Nigerian Alex Iwobi and then to make the tremendous save against Adama Traoré.
With this victory,
Aston Villa has 49 points and regained fourth position in the Premier League
, the last one that grants qualification for the next edition of the Champions League, behind Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City.
This was possible because Tottenham (Cristian Romero started and Giovani Lo Celso entered in the second half) fell 2 to 1 at home against Wolverhampton and was left with 47 points.