In a pulsating Europa League encounter at Villa Park, Aston Villa produced a remarkable second-half turnaround to secure a 3-2 victory against Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg. The hero of the hour was nineteen-year-old forward Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, who netted a dramatic late winner to cap a thrilling comeback that had seemed improbable for much of the match.
Villa's Resilience Tested by Salzburg and Injury Blow
Unai Emery's side, having already secured qualification from their group, made six changes to the lineup that triumphed over Newcastle United at the weekend. Despite resting several key players, the Villa manager opted to start with star striker Ollie Watkins. However, the first half belonged to the visitors from Salzburg, who capitalised on defensive uncertainty to take a commanding lead.
The breakthrough arrived in the 33rd minute following a costly error by Tyrone Mings near the right by-line. Edmund Baidoo's subsequent cross was turned towards goal by Karim Konaté, with Victor Lindelöf unable to prevent the ball from crossing the line. Worse was to follow for the home side just five minutes later, as Watkins was forced off clutching his hamstring, replaced by Morgan Rogers.
Salzburg Extend Advantage Before Villa Fightback Ignites
Any hopes of a straightforward Villa recovery were dashed shortly after the interval when Salzburg doubled their advantage. Kerim Alajbegovic showcased nimble footwork to reach the by-line before delivering a cross that Moussa Yeo met with an exquisite near-post flick, leaving the home support stunned.
Yet, the introduction of Rogers proved pivotal. The substitute reduced the deficit with a neat finish after combining intelligently with Emi Buendía, injecting belief into the Villa ranks. Mings then atoned for his earlier mistake, rising powerfully to head home Matty Cash's cross and restore parity, setting the stage for a grandstand finish.
Jimoh-Aloba Emerges as Unlikely Match-Winner
With the clock ticking down and the match seemingly headed for a draw, teenager Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba etched his name into Villa folklore. In the 87th minute, he calmly guided Kadan Young's low delivery into the corner of the net, sending Villa Park into raptures and completing a memorable comeback victory.
Emery praised his team's character afterwards, highlighting the importance of squad depth in European competition. The victory, however, was tempered by concern over Watkins' injury, which will be assessed in the coming days.
Rangers' European Campaign Ends in Disappointment
Elsewhere in the Europa League, Rangers' underwhelming continental campaign concluded with a comprehensive 3-1 defeat away to Portuguese giants Porto. Danny Röhl's side had started brightly, taking an early lead through Djeidi Gassama's looping header from a Findlay Curtis cross.
Porto responded emphatically, levelling through Rodrigo Mora before capitalising on a calamitous defensive mix-up between goalkeeper Jack Butland and captain James Tavernier. Francisco Moura pounced to back-heel the hosts into the lead. The scoring was completed when Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez inadvertently headed a Porto corner past his own goalkeeper, compounding a miserable evening for the Scottish side.
The result confirms Porto's progression to the last sixteen, while Rangers exit the competition reflecting on a campaign that promised much but ultimately fell short of expectations.
