Hero Martinez’s two-card trick
Villa goalkeeper survives two yellow cards to seal European shoot-out victory
Emiliano Martinez insisted it was his “destiny” to extend Aston Villa’s European adventure after emerging the hero in the penalty shootout victory over Lille despite being booked twice.
Martinez produced another outstanding individual performance by saving two spot-kicks to secure Villa a place in the last four of the Europa Conference League and leave them as the last English club left standing in Europe this season.
The Argentine ran the gauntlet of hate all evening in Lille. He had infuriated French fans following his country’s World Cup final win over France in Qatar 17 months ago. Last night, he was shown two yellow cards yet avoided a red as his second caution came during the shoot-out – bookings are not carried over from normal and extra time. However, Villa understand the two yellows will force Martinez to miss the semifinal first leg through suspension.
The 31-year-old provided the crucial moments with saves from Nabil Bentaleb and Benjamin Andre to keep Villa dreaming of silverware.
“I always say in my career, I owe my team-mates in those moments,” he said. “Even when we were watching Real Madrid last night, the manager was saying we might go to penalties, and in those moments I own my box.
“It’s been hell of a ride all my career. I’m always a believer and I’m a hard worker and it was my destiny to win here again. This group of players and the managers are special. It feels like we are going to do something special, I don’t know if it’s the Champions League or I don’t know if it’s Conference League but we try to do everything we can to push the football club.”
Martinez admitted he was confused about the rules after his two bookings from Slovak referee Ivan Kruzliak. After saving the first Lille penalty from Bentaleb, he hushed his lips at the home supporters and was booked shortly afterwards for complaining that the ball was not on the penalty spot.
“It’s all about my reputation for time-wasting because the other goalie was doing exactly the same thing,” he said. “I got a yellow after 30 minutes and we were losing the game so I don’t know what the ref wants from me. Then there was no ball in the penalty spot and I was asking for a ball from the ball boy and I get booked, I just don’t understand the rules.”
Whatever the occasion, however hostile the environment, Emiliano Martinez is the undisputed king of the penalty shoot-out.
Martinez simply thrives on these pressure cooker situations and took centre stage again to leave Lille as both the hero and villain, after an utterly absorbing European night.
Sixteen months after playing a key role in helping Argentina beat France in the World Cup final, Les Bleus’ Public Enemy No1 was the spot-kick destroyer to extend Unai Emery’s magical record in Europe.
Saving penalties from Nabil Bentaleb and Benjamin Andre, Martinez turned to the Lille fans to perform a dance after the final kick before running the length of the pitch to the Villa fans sitting high in Stade Pierre-mauroy as chants of “Emi Martinez, the world’s No1” echoed around the stadium.
He was also booked twice, with the second caution for inciting the crowd after saving Bentaleb’s penalty. Martinez clearly feared he would be sent off, yet avoided a red card as the rules stipulate that cautions during the 120 minutes cannot be carried into penalties.
Villa are now preparing for a semi-final next month, with their hopes of ending a 28-year wait for silverware remaining improbably alive. They will go into that tie with Greek giants Olympiakos – who fall under the control of Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis – as the last English team left standing in Europe, as Liverpool and West Ham both failed to overturn deficits in the Europa League.
With Martinez between the posts, anything is possible. Emery said: “Emi is very important for us, he has his personality and his personality in the dressing room is very important.
“He’s a leader with the players. He’s really brilliant, his mentality, he has his personality when he plays as well. In the shoot out he was fantastic and I’m very proud. He is always under control.”
Martinez was always assured of a hostile reception here. His fractious relationship with France was sparked off after the post-match scenes after Argentina’s World Cup win in Qatar. After making a lewd gesture with his Golden Glove trophy, he then provoked France’s star forward Kylian Mbappe in the celebrations. He was booed throughout this second leg and riot police were placed in front of the home supporters as chaos broke out during the shoot-out. Objects were also hurled at the 31 year-old, who seems to relish it more when the stakes are so high. Yet it was inevitable that he would be the pivotal figure of the evening, and so it proved.
Emery is now dreaming of another trophy to accompany the four Europa Leagues he has already lifted in his career.
“We have our priority as well in the Conference League to be a contender and get a trophy, it will be
difficult of course,” he said. “We are involved. We are taking experiences in Europe and some players and coaches can try to help or use our experiences in any circumstance. Lille was a difficult match and a difficult team when we got them in the draw. They are very competitive, they were focusing on these two matches without playing in the league. I think in the end it was fantastic.”
Lille’s late consolation goal at Villa Park always appeared likely to be crucial and there was a predictably intense start from the hosts. Villa could not cope. The opening goal had an air of inevitability about it and came after 15 minutes. Gabriel Gudmundsson’s wickedly inswinging cross from the left was inviting and Yusuf Yazici swept the ball home from 12 yards.
Nicolo Zaniolo departed with an injury after 28 minutes and shortly before half-time Martinez picked up the first booking for time-wasting. In the first-half, leading scorer Ollie Watkins touched the ball just five times.
Villa were better in the second half but Lille added a second goal after a period of sustained pressure when Benjamin Andre headed in Hakon Arnar Haraldsson’s corner.
It was not until the 83rd minute that Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier was forced into his first save, tipping over a 20-yard shot from Matty Cash.
Yet Villa forced extra time when Chevalier spilled the ball after colliding with Bentaleb and Cash’s shot went in with a deflection. Chevalier then produced an amazing double save from Leon Bailey and Douglas Luiz, also denying Jhon Duran from close range in the final seconds of extra time.
In a frantic climax, Cash was also fortunate to escape being penalised for handball following a Var review.
Martinez, however, was not to be denied another famous night. Who knocked out?