Aston Villa delivered a spectacular second-half performance to overcome Bosnian champions Zrinjski Mostar in a thrilling Europa Conference League encounter that had Villa Park on the edge of their seats.
The Midlands club found themselves in an unexpected battle after falling behind to Nemanja Bilbija's first-half penalty, but emerged victorious thanks to a stunning turnaround after the interval.
Second-Half Blitz Secures Victory
Unai Emery's side came out with renewed purpose after the break, with Jhon Duran levelling the scores just four minutes into the second period. The Colombian striker unleashed a powerful effort that gave visiting goalkeeper Marko Maric no chance.
The momentum swiftly shifted in Villa's favour as they took the lead through an own goal from Zrinjski defender Hrvoje Barisic, before John McGinn put the game beyond doubt with Villa's third just minutes later.
Although Zrinjski showed their resilience by pulling one back through substitute Luka Marinovic, substitute Leon Bailey restored Villa's two-goal advantage with a well-taken finish to seal the points.
European Experience Proves Decisive
The victory demonstrated Villa's growing maturity in European competition under Emery's guidance. Despite facing a determined Zrinjski side who arrived in Birmingham as domestic champions, Villa's quality and depth ultimately proved decisive.
The introduction of key players from the bench, including Bailey's impactful cameo, highlighted the strength of Villa's squad as they navigated their way to a crucial three points in Group E.
This result puts Villa in a strong position as they continue their European campaign, building momentum ahead of their next continental challenge.
