In a thrilling encounter on Monday, Aston Villa's substitute, Jhon Duran, emerged as the hero by netting two late goals against Liverpool, securing a dramatic 3-3 draw at home and inching his team closer to a coveted Champions League spot for the upcoming season.
The match, witnessed by renowned Villa supporter Tom Hanks donning a claret tracksuit top, unfolded amidst a charged atmosphere, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp acknowledging the electrifying ambiance in the packed stadium.
Liverpool took an early lead in the second minute through an own goal by Villa's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Despite Youri Tielemans swiftly equalizing, goals from Cody Gakpo and Jarell Quansah put Liverpool in the lead.
However, Duran's introduction in the 79th minute turned the tide. The Colombian striker found the net in the 85th and 88th minutes, with his second goal, a remarkable lob executed on the run, igniting jubilation among Villa and its supporters.
"We created chances but we didn’t score," remarked Tielemans to Sky Sports. "We got the draw and fought right until the end... It’s unlucky but we’ll take the draw."
With Villa remaining in fourth place, five points ahead of Tottenham, their fate in securing a Champions League berth hinges on upcoming fixtures. Villa has one game remaining, while Tottenham has two, commencing with a crucial clash against league leaders Manchester City on Tuesday night.
The top four teams in the English Premier League qualify for the Champions League. Liverpool, currently third, maintains a 14-point advantage over Villa.
The match saw an early setback for Villa as Martinez's own goal provided Liverpool with an initial lead. However, Villa responded swiftly as Tielemans capitalized on Ollie Watkins' setup to level the score.
Liverpool regained the lead through Gakpo after a VAR review confirmed Joe Gomez's assist, before Quansah extended their advantage early in the second half.
Duran's impactful performance drew praise from Villa manager Unai Emery, who highlighted his clinical finishing.
Villa's players eagerly await the outcome of Tuesday's fixture between Tottenham and Manchester City, knowing that anything other than a Tottenham victory would secure their entry into the prestigious Champions League.
"There’s some of us that have never been close to the Champions League in our life," remarked Villa captain John McGinn, reflecting the team's anticipation. "We’ll have our Man City tops on tomorrow."
