IT’S OLOVER NOW
Emery’s Euro adventure comes to pitta end as early strike from Greeks seals Villa’s fate
UNAI EMERY suffered a Greek tragedy as his dreams of ending Villa’s trophy drought died.
The Spaniard was looking to finally plonk some silverware in a barren cabinet at Villa Park but the mountain his club had to climb proved beyond his injury-hit side. Recovering from a two-goal deficit from the first leg in Birmingham was always going to be a tough ask – only three teams had done so in European history – but for a team hunting a Champions League place, optimism remained.
But it was dashed inside 10 minutes as Ayoub El Kaabi, their nemesis in the first leg, struck an early goal to leave them even further behind.
His second, 10 minutes from time, sparked a red-and-white party in the stands.
And despite a spirited effort – Villa undoubtedly left it all out there on the pitch in Piraeus – it’s now 28 long years and counting since Brian Little led his club to triumph in the League Cup.
Olympiakos were looking to break a 53-year hoodoo for Greek clubs. Not since the 1971 European
Cup final, when
Ajax beat Panathinaikos, had one reached a European final. And what would make it sweeter for the fans of the club, based in Piraeus, is the fact that the final is played at the home of rivals AEK Athens. There has even been chatter in the capital about whether it can be moved. With a two-goal advantage to protect from the first leg, the approach from the hosts, led by one of Emery’s contemporaries – Jose Luis Mendilibar – was always going to be key. It quickly became clear that they would funnel back into a shape 30 yards from their own goal and look to hit Villa on the break, a tactic that worked
so well in the first leg. And it took just 10 minutes in Greece for it to do so again.
Emery’s team have prospered in the Premier League – and Europe – this year through playing a high line and challenging teams to break it. Olympiakos did break it through El Kaabi – the hat-trick hero in the first leg – who opened the scoring.
It owed plenty to former Wolves man Daniel Podence (circled). A crossfield pass had set the little winger on his way down the left. He first cross was blocked but the ball fell back to him. This time, left-back Quini charged to support and a disguised pass from Podence allowed the defender to cross to the far post where El Kaabi forced it over the line.
A wave of euphoric relief swept around the stadium.
Villa’s attacks became more frantic. As did the defending.
A long-range Douglas Luiz effort was dealt with easily before Leon Bailey was taken out half-a-yard outside the area by Rodinei. Referee Felix Zwayer booked the defender but, with Emery ( far left) protesting furiously on the touchline, no further action was taken.
Villa were met with massed ranks in the second half but failed to test keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis until the late stages and their exit was sealed when El Kaabi thumped the second past Emi Martinez. The goal was initially disallowed for offside but given after a VAR check.
Villa star John Mcginn admitted: “We are gutted but the better team went through.”