Aston Villa star claims Champions League redemption as Unai Emery changes pay off
Aston Villa have taken a real stranglehold on their Champions League last 16 tie with Club Brugge after claiming a 3-1 first leg victory in Belgium, to put Unai Emery's men on the verge of the quarter-finals
Tyrone Mings returned to the scene of his greatest embarrassment - and redeemed himself.
The England international pulled off a miraculous second-half goalline clearance, laying the platform for a smash ’n’ grab victory as the power of the Premier League won through.
Mings somehow diverted Hans Vanaken’s header away from goal - at the same end of the Jan Breydel Stadium where he had unwittingly caused Villa’s downfall four months ago. Back then, he picked up a ball - allowing the Black and Blues to win a penalty whose conversion brought them victory.
With the game in the balance last night, his intervention kept Emery’s side on level terms as an own goal and Marco Asensio penalty allowed Villa fans to start dreaming of a spot in the last eight.
READ MORE: Ruben Amorim makes very bold statement that Manchester United fans may not agree withREAD MORE: Arne Slot makes promise as Liverpool boss responds to FA claims and Michael OliverBut this was an example of Villa’s squad's strength as much as anything else, as, after a bright start, they had again struggled for answers. As the game entered its final quarter, Villa’s boss was clearly tired of what was playing out in front of him.
He made four substitutions - breathing fresh life into his side all over the pitch. And when any manager can bring on the likes of Asensio and Jacob Ramsey from the bench, it is bound to have a positive effect.
Emery is a specialist in European football and he read the script to perfection. His changes ultimately paid off, as Villa are within sight of a last-eight date against either Liverpool or Paris St Germain. They will first have to complete the job next week at Villa Park.
And they cannot take Brugge lightly. Nicky Hayen’s side has defeated Atalanta home and away for the right to reach this round of 16.
They did enough to suggest it will be a competitive evening - although, with two defeats in their last 23 matches on their own patch - Villa will be overwhelming favourites. Their night could hardly have got off to a better start.
There were fewer than three minutes on the clock when Youri Tielemans pumped a free-kick into the area, slightly on an angle from outside the centre circle. Mings, whose name was cheered ironically by the home support when the teams were read out - nodded the ball down.
Bailey gambled correctly and pulled away from his marker, sidefooting crisply into the bottom corner from 12 yards. But Brugge have something about them - and they drew level with a fine effort shortly afterwards. Ardon Jashiri switched play from one flank to the other, his crossfield pass finding Christos Tzolis, who had worked himself the wrong side of stand-in right-back Axel Disasi.
The winger waited for help and found it on the inside as Maxim De Cuyper galloped up from left-back to collect and fire a left-foot shot across Villa keeper Emi Martinez. Neither team was able to gain full control. Emery’s men were lacklustre in attack and it was no surprise when wholesale changes were made as the game entered its’ final quarter.
Then came Mings’s moment - the slightest of touches changing the course of the outcome.
The benefits were seen in the last ten minutes. Morgan Rogers cross from the right was poked past his own keeper by Brandon Mechele. With Bruges reeling from the injustice of it all, they conceded a third in the dying seconds.
It was a tired challenge by Christos Tzolis on Matty Cash - the full-back was going away from goal - that allowed Asensio to step up and fire home the penalty and leave Villa fans dreaming of what might be.
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