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Aston Villa Disappointed as Soft Decision Denies Late Winner Against Juventus
Aston Villa were left rueing a “soft” decision after a last-minute goal by Morgan Rogers was disallowed in their Champions League clash against Juventus. The match, held at Villa Park, ended in a frustrating 0-0 draw, a result that still kept Villa in a solid position in their European campaign but left them winless in their last seven matches.
The drama unfolded in the final moments of the match, deep into stoppage time. Villa had been holding firm against the Italian giants when a foul was conceded by Teun Koopmeiners in midfield. This gave Villa one last chance to pump a long ball into the Juventus box. Youri Tielemans delivered the ball into the area, where Diego Carlos rose to challenge Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. However, the keeper misjudged the flight of the ball, allowing it to slip through his hands. The ball spilled loose at the back post, where Morgan Rogers was waiting to tap it into an empty net, seemingly sealing a dramatic win for Villa.
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But after a tense delay, the referee, Jesús Gil Manzano, ruled that Carlos had committed a foul on Di Gregorio, with a minor collision deemed enough for the goal to be disallowed. The decision was met with jeers from the Villa supporters, who had been convinced that Rogers’ strike would be the match-winner. Ollie Watkins, speaking after the match, described the foul as "soft," while manager Unai Emery expressed his frustration, acknowledging that European refereeing standards often differ from those in the Premier League. Emery conceded that such decisions are common in European competitions, though he still felt the call was harsh.
Despite the disallowed goal, Villa’s goalkeeper Emiliano MartÃnez was once again the hero for his team. Just minutes earlier, he had pulled off a stunning save to keep Villa level. With Juventus threatening, Francisco Conceição thought he had scored, only for MartÃnez to deny him with a reflex save that was so close to the line that goal-line technology had to confirm it had not crossed.
While Villa’s defense, led by MartÃnez, had kept the Italian side at bay for much of the game, the match was also defined by missed opportunities. Lucas Digne rattled the crossbar with a free-kick, and John McGinn was denied by Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli in a critical defensive block. These near-misses summed up a night where Villa’s attacking play lacked the cutting edge needed to secure all three points.
The 0-0 draw leaves Villa in a strong position in the group, sitting 9th in the Champions League standings. However, the draw also means they are now without a win in seven matches across all competitions. Emery, while acknowledging the disappointment, is confident his team can bounce back, emphasizing that Villa are still in the mix to secure a place in the knockout stages. With tough fixtures ahead, including an upcoming clash with Chelsea, Villa will need to find a way to turn draws into victories if they are to continue their European adventure.
Despite the setback, Emery and his players remain focused and determined to push forward, aware that the competition is fierce but still within their grasp. The frustration over the disallowed goal is unlikely to subside soon, but Villa’s resolve in the face of adversity is something that could serve them well as the season progresses.
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