By Our Man at Villa Park
UNAI EMERY has found himself a new diamond in the rough as teenage sensation Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba stepped off the bench to save Aston Villa’s blushes in a five-goal Europa League thriller.
Villa Park was rocking—and then reeling—as the Villans turned a potential disaster into a night of pure European magic.
But the 3-2 victory came at a heavy price, with star striker Ollie Watkins limping off with a hamstring injury that will have England boss Thomas Tuchel sweating.
The Nightmare Start
It all looked to be going south for the Prem giants when a defensive mix-up saw Victor Lindelof turn the ball into his own net after 33 minutes.
Things went from bad to worse just after the break when Moussa Yeo flicked home a second for the Austrians, leaving Unai Emery fuming on the touchline.
With Watkins already in the treatment room, Villa looked toothless. That was until the big guns—and the new kids—decided they’d seen enough.
The Fightback
The comeback was ignited by Morgan Rogers, the man brought on to replace Watkins. He showed exactly why he’s the talk of the Midlands, dancing through the Salzburg backline to slot home in the 64th minute.
Suddenly, the Holte End found its voice.
Tyrone Mings, who had earlier been at fault for the visitors’ opener, went from zero to hero. Rising like a skyscraper, the veteran defender powered home a header from a Matty Cash cross to level the scores and set up a grandstand finish.
A Star is Born
But the night belonged to 19-year-old Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba.
Introduced as a late sub, the academy graduate showed nerves of steel. In the 87th minute, fellow youngster Kadan Young burst down the flank and squared a perfect ball. Jimoh-Aloba didn’t blink, side-footing a clinical finish into the bottom corner to send the stadium into delirium.
It was his first senior goal, and it secured Villa’s second-place finish in the Europa League table.
Emery saluted his young guns at full-time, but the shadow of Watkins’ injury looms large over Villa’s domestic hopes.
The Villa boss said:
”The character of the young players was fantastic. Jamaldeen has been working hard for this moment. We are happy with the win, but we must wait on Ollie.”
Villa march on to the Round of 16, but they’ll be hoping their talismanic striker isn’t sidelined for long.
