A night of high drama at Villa Park saw Aston Villa produce a breathtaking second-half comeback to defeat Red Bull Salzburg 3-2, but the crucial Europa League victory was overshadowed by a worrying injury to star striker Ollie Watkins.
With progression already secured, Villa’s fight was for pride and top spot, and they showcased immense character to overturn a two-goal deficit. The fairytale moment belonged to 19-year-old substitute Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, who swept home an 87th-minute winner to score his first senior goal and send the Holte End into raptures.
The evening, however, took a concerning turn early on. Watkins, appearing to clutch his hamstring, was forced off after just 35 minutes. Post-match, manager Unai Emery offered cautious optimism, stating, “He felt something, but not a lot. We will test him tomorrow. Hopefully, we are thinking it is not serious, but I don’t know if he will be available for Sunday.”
Salzburg, who needed a win to keep their own hopes alive, executed a perfect first-half game plan. They capitalised on a rare Tyrone Mings error, with Karim Konate pouncing to open the scoring. After the break, Moussa Yeo’s clever flick seemed to put the Austrian side in complete control.
The comeback was ignited by the introduction of Morgan Rogers. The substitute calmly halved the deficit, injecting belief back into the stadium. Redemption then arrived for Mings, who powered home a header to level the score, setting the stage for the academy graduate’s grand finale.
How the Drama Unfolded:
Despite early pressure from Villa, Salzburg’s pressing strategy paid off. Their opener came from Mings being dispossessed in a dangerous area, allowing Konate to finish. Watkins’ injury then compounded Villa’s frustrations before Yeo’s goal deepened the crisis.
The tide turned with Rogers’ composed finish, assisted by Emi Buendia, in the 68th minute. Buoyed by the crowd, Villa’s pressure mounted until Mings connected with Matty Cash’s cross to equalise. Then, with time running out, Kadan Young found space on the left and delivered a low cross for the arriving Jimoh-Aloba, who wrote his name into Villa Park folklore.
Emery Hails Spirit and Youth
A proud Unai Emery praised his team’s resilience and the contribution of his young players. “Europe is always difficult. We faced a team needing to win, and we struggled. But how we reacted is something we have built this year,” he said.
“The collective performance, the energy from the fans… it was crucial. We used some young players, and for them, it is very important to have these chances to show their progress. This competition is a major objective for us, and tonight we showed our heart.”
