Softfootball understands that Aston Villa once again refused to lie down at Villa Park, fighting back from two goals down to beat Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 and finish the UEFA Europa League phase in second place.
After the game Aston Villa shared a post about the result via their official X account.
Following their recent 1-0 victory against Fenerbahçe after a 2-1 victory against Tottenham, the hosts started like a team with nothing to lose. Barely 30 seconds had passed when Ollie Watkins and Harvey Elliott forced Alexander Schlager into a sharp double save, setting the tone early.
Villa looked comfortable at first, knocking the ball around with confidence, but Salzburg slowly found their way into the game. Emiliano Martínez was forced into action, first denying Soumaila Diabate from a distance and then reacting quickly to stop Karim Konaté on the rebound.
As the pace dropped, Salzburg pressed harder, and Villa cracked. Tyrone Mings hesitated when playing the ball back, allowing Edmund Baidoo to pounce and square for Konaté, who finished into an open net. Salzburg stayed on top until the break.
Things got worse for Villa just after half-time. Kerim Alajbegović wriggled past a couple of challenges and fired a low ball across the box, where substitute Moussa Yeo flicked it in with a brilliant backheel. At 2-0, Villa Park went quiet for a moment.
Then the shift came. Emiliano Buendía and Morgan Rogers combined in a slick move, Rogers sliding the ball inside the near post to give Villa a lifeline. From there, belief crept back in.
Matty Cash’s teasing cross found Mings, who rose highest to head home and make up for his earlier error. And with minutes left, two young substitutes stole the headlines.
Kadan Young drove into the area and squared for Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, who calmly side-footed past Schlager on his first European appearance. No fuss, just finish.
Salzburg were excellent for large parts, especially early on, but Villa’s never-say-die habit proved decisive again. Seven wins from eight, ten unbeaten at home in Europe. Messy, dramatic, unforgettable. European nights don’t always need perfection.
