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Late own goal and penalty earn Villa first-leg win at Brugge

rugby04 March 2025 19:49| © Reuters
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Aston Villa earned a 3-1 win away to Club Brugge in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in Belgium on Tuesday, thanks to an own goal and a penalty kick in the final eight minutes.

Leon Bailey put Villa ahead after three minutes and Maxim De Cuyper levelled nine minutes later. But Brugge's Brandon Mechele scored an own goal eight minutes from time and with two minutes left, Marco Asensio converted from the penalty spot.

The sides will meet again at Villa Park next Wednesday for the second leg, to decide who will face either Liverpool or Paris St Germain in the quarterfinals.

"I am happy, but calm. There are still 90 minutes to play," Emery told reporters.

"We are not in the quarterfinal. I know how difficult each match is and how it can change."

Brugge won 1-0 when the sides met earlier in the competition, but this time around the hosts were chasing the game from the start.

A Youri Tielemans free kick floated into the box was headed back by Tyrone Mings and Bailey met the ball first time with a side-footed half-volley which flew into the bottom corner.

Brugge were soon level with De Cuyper marking his 100th appearance for the club with a goal.

A long ball forward reached Christos Tzolis in the area and he bided his time before laying a pass back to De Cuyper whose low shot beat the dive of Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez.

Martinez got down well to save a shot from Chemsdine Talbi as Brugge created the only other real chance before the break after the tempo slowed following their equaliser.

There was no lightning start to the second half and while the Villa players appeared content with a draw, manager Unai Emery decided to shake things up, making four changes just after the hour mark.

"I made four changes to get fresh legs, but to keep the same game plan," Emery said.

"I am really happy how they responded."

One of those changes, Asensio, had a powerful shot saved by Brugge keeper Simon Mignolet and when the rebound fell to another substitute, Matty Cash, he sent the ball over the bar.

Seconds later Brugge went up the other end, where Hans Vanaken sent a header wide of the far post from close range and Tzolis had an even better chance to put the hosts ahead but with just the keeper to beat he blazed his shot well over.

The game looked to be heading for a draw when it all fell apart for the home side.

First, Mechele put the ball in his own net in an attempt to cut out a low Morgan Rogers ball across the goal and it got even worse when Tzolis fouled Cash in the area.

Asensio stepped up and continued his fine scoring form for Villa, netting his fifth goal in seven games since arriving on loan from Paris St Germain to give Emery's side a two-goal cushion.

"The way we played was good again," Brugge manager Nicky Hayen told his players in a huddle after the final whistle.

"The only thing we can blame is that we gave the goals away ourselves."

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