Aston Villa on brink of first trophy in 30 years

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 Aston Villa 4 - 0 Nottingham Forest (Aston Villa won 4-1 on aggregate)

A memorable night for Villa as they progress to their first European final since winning the European Cup in the 1980s.

Author | Jay Dean

Stadium | Villa Park

The home side swept aside Nottingham Forest to reach the Europa League final and move within touching distance of ending a 30-year wait for major silverware.

A late double from John McGinn, added to an Emi Buendia penalty and an early strike from Ollie Watkins, completed Villa’s comeback after last week’s 1-0 first-leg defeat.

The hosts will face SC Freiburg in the final in Istanbul on 20 May after the Bundesliga side edged past Braga 4-3 on aggregate.

 Watch | Pre match vibes at Villa Park

Villa manager Unai Emery is pursuing a fifth Europa League crown, having built a formidable reputation in the competition before arriving at Villa Park. Success would deliver the club’s first major trophy since the 1996 League Cup and secure qualification for next season’s Champions League.

Villa remain fifth in the Premier League and, should they finish there and also lift the Europa League, the side in sixth place, currently Bournemouth, would also qualify for the Champions League.

This was a thoroughly deserved victory for the home side, watched on by Prince William,

Forest offered little attacking threat in the absence of Morgan Gibbs-White. The midfielder was named among the substitutes after suffering a head injury that required extensive stitches during Monday’s win at Chelsea.

Villa levelled the tie seven minutes before half-time when Watkins converted Buendia’s cross from the left.

They moved ahead on aggregate 13 minutes into the second half after referee Glenn Nyberg awarded a penalty following a VAR review which showed Nikola Milenkovic pulling Pau Torres inside the area.

Watkins later had a goal ruled out for offside, while Emiliano MartĂ­nez denied Chris Wood before McGinn’s late burst sealed Villa’s place in the final.

Watch | Full time scenes

The full-times from TNT Sports show the level of emotion that surrounded Villa Park. Even the future king was celebrating. Now, some of these players are one match away from immortality at Villa Park. For Forest, this was a remarkable run. Now their attention turns to guaranteeing Premier League survival. 


Location: Trinity Rd, Birmingham B6 6HE, UK

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