Aston Villa advanced to the last 16 of the Europa Conference League with a 5-4 victory over Celtic, thanks to a hat-trick from Morgan Rogers. The match saw both teams create numerous chances, with Celtic briefly drawing level after Adam Idah's double, but Villa ultimately proved too strong.
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Callum McGregor, the Celtic captain, asked questions of his team-mates, Rodgers looked on in the away dugout. Celtic summoned a response, Nicolas Kühn scissoring a shot wide after Idah gave chase to a long ball. Boubacar Kamara, a makeshift centre-back amid Villa’s defensive injuries, twice nipped in to avert any sign of danger but Celtic had nothing to lose and would not relent. Reo Hatate squandered a fine chance after seizing a loose pass from Lucas Digne.
So it could feasibly have been 4-1 to the hosts. Then Villa cracked. There were nervous glances after Adam Idah extended his right leg to hook in Greg Taylor’s cross, which diverted into the former Norwich striker’s path via John McGinn, whose attempted clearance backfired. Two minutes later Idah converted from the edge of the six-yard box to cap a slick move and make a mockery of those who presumed Villa would simply swat aside the Scottish champions. Rodgers punched the air.
Celtic hoped to seize on a souring mood inside Villa Park, the groans that filled the air as a couple of early second-half moves collapsed. But with the hour mark looming McGinn took matters into his own hands, shrugging off Arne Engels on halfway to spark an attack. Ramsey streamed towards goal and unselfishly squared for an unmarked Watkins to his left to lash in. The stadium announcer also improvised, inviting supporters to cheer Watkins’s name by starting off his song.
Schmeichel saved to thwart Watkins with his right boot and up the other end McGinn did superbly to prevent Yang Hyun-jun advancing, grappling with and gnawing at the Celtic forward to halt the promise of the visitors’ counterattack. Hatate then flashed a shot wide from 20 yards and then Watkins rattled the side netting before Rogers completed his hat-trick late on.
FOOTBALL EUROPE CONFERENCE LEAGUE ASTON VILLA CELTIC MORGAN ROGERS
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