It brought back bad memories to the French. Great architect of Argentina's victory in the 2022 World Cup final, Emiliano Martinez this time thwarted LOSC's plans.
This Thursday in the quarter-final first leg of the Europa Conference League, the goalkeeper made several saves and allowed Aston Villa to defeat the French (2-1).
Paulo Fonseca's players quickly found themselves led by the English. During a highlight at the start of the match, Aston Villa, through Ollie Watkins, scorer of his 25th goal this season in all competitions (13th, 1-0). Abandoned at the far post on a corner, the Englishman deceived Lucas Chevalier with a diving header.
However, LOSC dominated this first period. He could have equalized but Emiliano Martinez destroyed the French hopes. He first made a good exit at the feet of Edon Zhegrova, guilty of having missed his control. Bafodé Diakité then offered himself a climb, but the central defender, launched into the English area, also came up against the Argentine goalkeeper. It was then Jonathan David, with a strike on the ground, who saw his attempt fail.
Lille probably missed their chance at this moment. At the start of the second half, Aston Villa managed to double the lead. After a two-played corner, John McGin was served in front of the area and fired a sudden shot from the left (2-0, 56th).
Despite everything, Paulo Fonseca's team did not give up. She first thought to reduce the score in the 63rd minute, when Gabriel Gudmundsonn took a ball from the left, alone at the far post. But he was in an offside position. The Swede had another opportunity in the 72nd minute, this time it was Emiliano Martinez who saved his diving header.
After all these missed opportunities, Lille finally managed to reduce the gap, at the very end of the game. From a corner, Bafodé Diakité perfectly cut Angel Gomes' cross, with a header at the near post (84th, 2-1).
The French, far from having deserved, came out with a goal behind and can nourish hopes before the return match, next Thursday at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium.