Steer the hero as Villa reach play-off final after penalty drama
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 14/05/2019 at 22:23 GMT
Championship play-off semi-final, second leg, The Hawthorns - West Brom 1 (Dawson 29') Aston Villa 0 - 2-2 on aggregate (3-4 on penalties).
Jack Grealish and Jed Steer of Aston Villa celebrate victory in the penalty shoot out with team mates during the Sky Bet Championship Play-off semi final second leg match between West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at The Hawthorns on May 14, 2019 in We
Image credit: Getty Images
Aston Villa secured their place in the Championship play-off final, but rode their luck as they saw off 10-man West Brom in a nervy penalty shootout at the Hawthorns.
Dean Smith’s side held a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, but saw that lead evaporate in the first half of the second as Craig Dawson got on the end of a long throw into the box, guiding a header in via the inside of the back post.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2019/05/14/2587585-53650410-2560-1440.jpg)
Craig Dawson of West Bromwich Albion celebrates as he scores his team's first goal during the Sky Bet Championship Play-off semi final second leg match between West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at The Hawthorns on May 14, 2019 in West Bromwich, England
Image credit: Getty Images
West Brom were on the front foot until the sending off of Chris Brunt nine minutes from the end, with the Northern Irishman seeing a second yellow card for a rash challenge on John McGinn 20 yards out from goal.
That moment changed the dynamic of the tie, but West Brom defended for their lives, taking the match to a penalty shootout. Two early saves from Jed Steer saw Villa take a 2-0 lead in the shootout and despite a miss from Jonathan Kodjia the away side got over the line, setting up a final clash against Derby County or Leeds United, who play their second leg on Wednesday.
TALKING POINT - Aston Villa got away with one
There was a point in the second half at which Aston Villa looked to be on the ropes. They were misplacing passes, inviting pressure on top of themselves… a West Brom winner looked inevitable. The Brunt sending off changed things, but Smith must prevent another display like this in the play-off final. A repeat will see Derby County or Leeds United, no matter who it is, into the Premier League.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2019/05/15/2587665-53652010-2560-1440.jpg)
Tammy Abraham , Keinan Davis and Kortney Hause of Aston Villa celebrate victory in the penalty shoot out after the Sky Bet Championship Play-off semi final second leg match between West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at The Hawthorns on May 14, 2019 in W
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH - Sam Johnstone (West Brom)
In a match that saw very little quality from the outfield players, this was a contest about the goalkeepers. Steer’s two saves in the shootout ultimately won the game for Aston Villa, and his face will be on the back pages, but it wouldn’t even have got that far had it not been for Sam Johnstone who pulled off a number of astonishing saves. His best stop came when he prevented Albert Adomah from finding the net, pulling off a low save from close range.
PLAYER RATINGS
West Brom: Johnstone 9, Dawson 7, Bartley 7, Hegazi 7, Holgate 7, Gibbs 6, Johansen 5, Brunt 4, Phillips 5, Rodriguez 4, Murphy 5. Subs: Leko 5, Harper 5, Morrison 6, Adarabioyo 5.
Aston Villa: Steer 8, Taylor 6, Tuanzebe 5, McGinn 5, Grealish 6, Hourihane 5, Abraham 5, Green 5, El Ghazi 6, Elmohamady 5, Mings 6. Subs: Adomah 6, Kodjia 5, Davis 5, Jedinak.
KEY MOMENTS
29’ GOAL! West Brom 1-0 Aston Villa (2-2 on aggregate): There's the goal that West Brom were desperate for! Dawson gets on the end of a long throw into the Villa box, there was no pace on it, so he had to create it all himself and manages to find the far corner of the net off the inside of the post! We are level in this semi-final!
81’ SENT OFF! West Brom have been reduced to 10 men! Brunt has been shown a second yellow card for a reckless and late tackle on McGinn about 20 yards out! He had to go! Referee had no choice!
PENALTY SAVED! West Brom 0-0 Aston Villa - what a start to the penalty shoot-out for Villa! Steer guessed the right way and makes the save from Holgate!
PENALTY SAVED! West Brom 0-1 Aston Villa - it's another astonishing save from Steer! Hegazy's penalty wasn't a bad one, but the Vila goalkeeper got a strong hand to it!
PENALTY SCORED! West Brom 0-2 Aston Villa - Villa are two penalties to the good! Jedinak sends Johnstone the wrong way, finding the corner of the net!
PENALTY MISSED! West Brom 2-3 Aston Villa - it's a terrible penalty from Adomah, who skies his effort! He never looked like scoring!
PENALTY SCORED! West Brom 3-3 Aston Villa - Morrison keeps West Brom in this, but Abraham will have the chance from the spot to send Aston Villa through!
ASTON VILLA ARE INTO THE PLAY-OFF FINAL! Abraham just about squeezes his penalty kick past Johnstone and seals the shootout win for Villa! They will face either Leeds or Derby County in the Championship final!
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement