With the Premier League approaching its final week of the season, a lot is at stake for the teams fighting for European position including Aston Villa’s push for Champions League football for the first time in 40 years. Their latest test on Monday (May 13) saw Villa face Liverpool in an entertaining 3-3 draw, a game in which their World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez scripted unwanted history. While he was bailed out by Jhon Duran’s late goals, he could not avoid the embarrassment at Villa Park in his side’s final home game of the season.
Martinez scripts unwanted history
In the opening two minutes of the match on Monday, Harvey Elliot’s deflected shot came in his way, but he was unable to hold on to the ball. Despite the best efforts to save the goal, he was unable to avoid the embarrassment and parried the ball over the goalline for Liverpool’s opener. The embarrassing moment saw him register his third own goal in his Premier League career, becoming the highest-scoring person between the sticks.
Previously he was level with most own goals scored by goalkeepers with Mark Bunn, Petr Cech, Shay Given, Rob Green, Kasper Schmeichel, Russell Hoult, Tom Heaton, Tim Krul, Bernd Leno, Jussi Jaaskelainen and Richard Wright. Martinez now has three own goalkeepers which makes him stand tall on the unwanted list of the record.
His first own goal came against his former side Aston Villa in February 2023 while earlier in the season he scored an own goal against Luton Town in a frantic win.
Villa keep Champions League hopes alive
Needing three points to secure Champions League qualification for next season, Villa trailed for the majority of the match before Jhon Duran came with a late brace. His goals in the 85th and 88th minutes saw Villa draw against Liverpool which now means a draw for fifth-placed Spurs against Manchester City on Tuesday will secure Villa’s Champions League qualification for the first time since the 1981-82 season when they won the European Cup.
Villa could still miss out on Champions League qualification if they lose their final game away against Crystal Palace and Spurs win against Manchester City and Sheffield United in their remaining two matches of the season.
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