Yahoo News Inside Aston Villa's dressing room as they book Europa Conference League semi-final tie
Aston Villa are in the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Lille in France on Thursday night. Having led 2-1 from the first leg last week, Villa were heading out after Lille took a 2-0 lead, before Matty Cash came to the rescue in the closing stages of normal time in order to force extra time.
Penalties were required to decide who would face Olympiakos in the semi-finals, and Villa prevailed 4-3 thanks to two Emiliano Martinez penalty saves, despite Leon Bailey having his own spot kick palmed away. Villa hope to secure Champions League football by finishing fourth in the Premier League, but they took another step to securing European silverware on Thursday night.
Unai Emery, a master of tournament football and who boasts a CV which points to four Europa League trophies lifted with Sevilla and Villarreal, now has a fifth title in his sights after his players came through what many consider to have been their toughest possible opponent left in the competition.
READ: National media crown Villa's 'undisputed king' after Lille heroics
READ: What UEFA coefficient rankings mean for Villa and Spurs after Lille win
For Villa's dressing room, the scenes were of jubilation as a host of the squad took to social media to soak up the reaction and pay tribute to their goalkeeper who, after performing heroics in the World Cup final penalty shoot-out for Argentina against France in 2022, was at it again on the big stage, this time in a Villa shirt.
"Semi-Finals unlocked," said Moussa Diaby, who joined Villa to compete in Europe. Another new recruit from this season, Morgan Rogers, said: "We did it!!!!! SEMISSSS LETS GOOOO." Pau Torres was a member of the Villarreal squad which beat Manchester United in the Europa League final back in 2021 and who scored his penalty in that shoot-out, said: "We are in semifinal!!! Al corro de la patataaaaa!! UTV!"
England international Ezri Konsa paid tribute to the supporters who had made the trip out to France to back Villa in their quarter final second leg and who could be heard throughout the evening: "Semi finals here we come! What a night, unreal support Villans thank you."
Lucas Digne added: "Let’s go in semi," while scorer on the night Cash posted: "What a night in Lille." Boubacar Kamara, who is having to watch his teammates without being able to help them as he recovers from injury ahead of pre-season this summer, simply posted: "Emi Martinez."
