Argentine international Emiliano Martinez was the subject of a controversial call in the Europa Conference League during Aston Villa’s quarterfinal second leg against Lille on Thursday night.
The World Cup winner was allowed to continue in goal for Villa during the penalty shootouts despite receiving a second yellow card at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES! ✨ pic.twitter.com/imMg2u3UeI
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 18, 2024
Martinez had initially received a yellow card in the 39th minute, and both the viewers and fans inside the stadium thought the goalie would get his matching orders after receiving another caution during the shootouts. However, that wasn’t the case for the 31-year-old, as any player who receives a yellow card in-game, does not carry it over into the penalty shootout.
He's top two and he's not two. pic.twitter.com/UH1rDVJ0Va
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 18, 2024
The former Arsenal goalkeeper, whose heroics in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final helped Argentina to their first title since 1986, saved two penalties in the shootout against Lille to help Aston Villa progress to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.
He denied Algerian midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, who took Lille’s first penalty, and with the scores in the shootout at 4-3, he saved French midfielder Benjamin Andre’s spotkick.
Turkish forward Yusuf Yazici, and Andre thought they had done enough to push Lille through, but Poland international Matty Cash scored late in the game to tie it at 3-3 on aggregate.
After 30 minutes of extra time, Martinez’s heroics eventually saved Aston Villa as Unai Emery’s side reached their first major European semi-final since 1982.
