Heroic Villa comeback falls just short against PSG

Aston Villa threatened to pull off a stunning comeback against Paris St-Germain before going out of the Champions League on a dramatic night at Villa Park.

Villa were attempting to overturn a 3-1 deficit to reach the semi-final but their hopes looked in tatters when they were two goals down inside the first half-hour

Achraf Hakimi cashed in on Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez's mistake to put PSG ahead, then Nuno Mendes doubled the French side's lead to leave Villa needing to score at least four goals.

In a thunderous Villa Park atmosphere, Unai Emery's team refused to yield and launched a magnificent response to put this hugely talented PSG side on the rack.

Youri Tielemans pulled one back after 34 minutes with a deflected shot before a second half of pure theatre unfolded in front a frenzied Villa Park.

Villa struck twice in two minutes to spark hopes of a remarkable revival, John McGinn scoring from 20 yards after 55 minutes before defender Ezri Konsa put them ahead on the night after fantastic work by Marcus Rashford.

And, as Villa's belief grew, it took three crucial saves from PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to stop them drawing level in the tie.

He dived high to his left to magnificently claw away Rashford's rising drive, then somehow turned out Tielemans' header before saving at the feet of substitute Marco Asensio.

PSG managed to regain a measure of composure to hold on and will meet Arsenal or Real Madrid in the semi-final.

Villa's Champions League thrill ride continued until the very last-minute as they gave this superb PSG side a huge scare before finally going out.

The odds were piled up against Villa after their 3-1 loss in Paris, and they were in an even deeper hole when the visitors ruthlessly picked them off early on to add two goals to that advantage.

Villa deserve huge credit for refusing to buckle when all seemed lost, delivering a brilliant fightback that took them to within one goal of forcing extra time.

Driven forward by combative captain McGinn, Villa unsettled PSG in a manner that proved beyond Manchester City, who were beaten in the league phase, and Liverpool when they were defeated in the last 16.

PSG were hanging on for dear life in the spell after Villa delivered two quick blows in the second half, but it was the outstanding Donnarumma who broke their hearts with stunning saves.

Villa, understandably, ran out of steam towards the end, allowing a relieved PSG to close out a win over two legs that looked a formality then turned into a dogfight.

Emery and his players were rewarded with a rousing standing ovation despite going out - deserved not just for this night but for their efforts in reaching the quarter-final.

PSG's brilliant forwards Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia established the platform for progress into the Champions League semi-final in the first leg against Villa in Paris - but it was keeper Donnarrumma who prevented a spectacular fall.

The giant Italian was the hero of PSG's win on penalties at Liverpool in the last round, and he was mobbed by delighted, and relieved, team-mates once more at the end of this superb game.

With PSG rocking under the sheer weight and pressure of Villa's attacks as they led 3-2 on the night, Donnarumma came to their rescue by forming a one-man barrier to stop them turning this tie around.

The pick of his saves was a dive to his left to somehow turn over Rashford's vicious shot, the keeper shouting and punching the air when the ball cleared the bar.

Donnarumma's clawing stop to keep out Tielemans' header was almost as good, before he blocked Asensio as the Spaniard ran through with only the keeper to beat, with the script being written for the on-loan midfielder to score against his parent club.

Euro 2020 winner Donnarumma can be an unpredictable keeper and has had his critics in the past - but there is no doubt who managed to keep PSG on an even keel as they wobbled at Villa Park.

Source: BBC Sport