Substitute Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba scored a late winner as Aston Villa got here from two objectives right down to beat RB Salzburg 3-2 and end within the Europa League prime two, however the victory was marred by an harm to Ollie Watkins.
Villa, already assured of a spot within the final 16, picked up their seventh win from eight video games within the group part the onerous approach however Watkins was compelled off with what seemed to be a hamstring harm. Villa boss Unai Emery says the membership will know extra in regards to the extent of the harm on Friday.
“He felt something, but not a lot,” Emery stated. “We will test him tomorrow and hopefully we are thinking maybe not a lot [of time]. But I don’t know if he is going to be available or not for Sunday.”
Salzburg had no different choice however to go in quest of the three factors and bought their reward for a unbelievable first-half show when Karim Konate took benefit of Tyrone Mings’ error.
The Austrian league leaders inflicted additional harm when Moussa Yeo transformed from shut vary shortly after half-time.
Morgan Rogers stepped off the bench to halve the deficit and Mings atoned for his earlier error when he nodded the hosts degree, earlier than Jimoh-Aloba accomplished the comeback by netting his first senior aim within the 87th minute.
Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba celebrates his late winner for Aston Villa
How Villa fell behind and turned it round
On-loan Harvey Elliott’s future stays up within the air with Emery admitting his scenario has not modified on the membership, however he was named within the beginning line-up for his first look since October.
Watkins confirmed how assured he’s inside the primary minute when he took purpose from distance, with Elliott nearly justifying his choice straightaway however seeing his effort from the rebound denied somewhat fortuitously by the legs of goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
Salzburg knew they wanted to win to face any likelihood of continuous within the competitors and the Austrian aspect hit the entrance within the thirty third minute. Mings was caught in two minds on the ball and was dispossessed by Edmund Baidoo, who squared for Konate to bundle the ball in regardless of one of the best efforts of Victor Lindelof.
Emery has needed to cope with a number of harm points currently and issues bought worse when Watkins was changed by Rogers within the thirty fifth minute after he felt in direction of his hamstring.
It took simply 4 minutes of the second half for the guests to double their lead.
Kerim Alajbegovic confirmed nice footwork to slalom his approach into the six-yard space and he squared the ball throughout for Yeo, who neatly flicked it into the online.
The house aspect discovered a approach again into the competition halfway by the half. Villa broke and Rogers performed a neat one-two with Emi Buendia earlier than expertly tucking a shot in on the close to submit.
They have been on degree phrases within the 76th minute. Matty Money despatched in a teasing supply and Mings bought his head to it earlier than Schlager’s fist and headed into an empty aim.
And Villa Park erupted because the hosts accomplished the turnaround three minutes from time when Jimoh-Aloba was readily available to complete Kadan Younger’s cross.
Emery cheered by Villa’s comeback Europa League victory
“Europe always is difficult. It’s difficult to beat the opponents away and home,” stated Aston Villa boss Unai Emery.
“Today we faced a team needing to win to have a chance to qualify and their idea is to get a lot of duels always going forward and we struggled in the first and second half, losing 2-0.
“However, how we reacted is one thing like within the league within the course of we now have this yr. After all, [I’m] very pleased [with] the efficiency collective and particular person good issues however different issues we should attempt to keep away from for the following matches.
“Overall [I’m] happy and today we used some young players – for them it’s very important to have chances to show their progress.
“This competitors is essential. [The] precedence is Premier League however that is [the] second goal. How we related with [the] followers at present…they created ambiance, serving to us – and we reacted due to the power.”
The important thing numbers from Villa Park
- Aston Villa gained when trailing by 2+ objectives in a serious European match for the third time, additionally doing so in September 1998 (3-2 vs Strømsgodset within the UEFA Cup) and April 2025 (3-2 vs PSG within the Champions League).
- FC RB Salzburg didn’t win a serious European sport when main by two objectives for the primary time since October 2011 towards Athletic Membership, drawing 2-2 within the UEFA Europa League.
- Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba was the fourth youngest participant (19 years, 119 days) to attain for Aston Villa in main European competitors, behind Nathan Delfouneso (17y 319d), Darius Vassell (18y 94d) and Mark Walters (18y 154d).
- FC RB Salzburg’s Moussa Yeo is the second youngest participant (21 years, 242 days) to attain towards Aston Villa in a serious European match at Villa Park, behind solely Christer George for Strømsgodset in September 1998 within the UEFA Cup (19 years, 35 days). The third youngest is Karim Konaté, who netted their opener tonight (21 years, 314 days).
- Tyrone Mings turned Aston Villa’s oldest ever main European scorer (32 years, 322 days), breaking Ray Houghton’s report from September 1994 towards Internazionale (32 years, 266 days).
