Player Match Ratings: Villa deny Brendan another final!

[John]

Brendan Rodgers had gone 32 cup games unbeaten until last night. The last time a team that he had been managing was knocked out of a cup competition was five long years ago. That defeat also came at the semi-final stage and it was Aston Villa that delivered that knock-out blow as well!          

This was a proper cup tie. A game that demonstrated that despite its detractors, the League Cup remains a major domestic honour, that both fans and players still obviously care about winning.                

Both teams went toe to toe during this game, as they had done in the first leg. There was very little to choose between the two sides over both legs and it may have been decided by penalties, had we not again hit another terrific late winner. The disparity that currently exists between the two clubs in the league table was not as evident last night, as it had been at the same venue in the league only last month.

The best team won last night. Our players fought like lions to defeat those pesky foxes and it would have been too cruel on them to have ended up on the losing side last night. Brendan Rodgers may choose to bleat on about a penalty appeal being turned down, but it went to VAR and not for the first time this season, VAR chose to support a decision made by the match officials. Such decisions have cost us already this season and the ball was hit very hard from a very short distance before hitting our player’s hand. A VAR decision went our way for once yesterday, that decision was final, and it was simply marvellous!     

We now have a deserved trip to Wembley to look forward to, but in the interim we need to turn our full attention to our coming league games. The confidence we will take from our cup run can be taken to Bournemouth at the weekend. Dean Smith’s teams tend to have a strong second half of the season and history is hopefully about to repeat itself.

Last night will live long in our memories. We have secured a fifth Wembley appearance in five years. This was not an easy win and we didn’t start as favourites, the same will be the case on 1st March. We will walk up Wembley Way in our claret and blue with hope, rather than in trepidation before the final. Our boys will get stuck in and as a club we are not unfamiliar with cup finals. Our opponents can underestimate us, if they so wish. Bring on those Mancunians, either of them!       

My player ratings from a game that was decided by a late goal that was made in Egypt were:

Orjan Nyland – 9 – MOTM – Orjan has made his two best performances in a Villa shirt in this semi-final. The chap waving the Norwegian flag which bore his name upon it before the game, foretold that he would give a MOTM performance! Blocked a 2nd minute shot from Iheanacho at the near post and then made a terrific save to turn Maddison’s 5th minute shot from inside of the box past the left-hand post. Made another top drawer save from the same player, stretching out his left hand to divert his shot from outside of the box, past the same post for a corner. Made a world class save, when he managed to get his fingertips to a 34th minute Tielemans shot from the edge of the box and help it up onto the crossbar. Stood no chance when Iheanacho hit his third goal against us this season, when he was left unmarked to convert a 72nd minute Barnes cross at the far post.                

Frederic Guilbert – 7 – Determined, solid and hard tackling.        

Ezri Konsa - 7 – Was unable to keep his 69th minute header from a Targett corner down, having made a run to the far post and the ball therefore flew over the bar. He will be a threat in opponent’s boxes in future games. Solid enough alongside Tyrone at the back.     

Tyrone Mings – 9 – Marshalled our defensive line, was strong in the challenge and made his usual timely important blocks. Did particularly well to divert a 78th minute Maddison cross over the bar with Iheanacho waiting for the ball to run onto him.     

Kortney Hause – 7 – Another competent and reliable display.              

Matt Targett – 9 – Matt was positive, made very good forward runs and was solid at the back last night. He works well with and enjoys a good understanding with Jack. Grealish played the ball into the left-hand side of the box for him and his 4th minute cross was blocked by the outstretched leg of Schmeichel. Hit our first on 12 minutes. Guilbert won a challenge, found Douglas in the centre circle, who in turn found Jack in space. Jack ran into the box and did well to cleverly play the ball behind him, to Matt who had made a great run into the box. He then hit a powerful shot from the left, past Schmeichel and into the far corner of the net. It had a strikingly similarity to his shot against Watford that produced a goal for Douglas. 

Anwar El Ghazi - 7 – Back where he belongs and performs best, having been filling in up front due to our recent lack of forward options. Hit a nice 15th minute free kick from around 30 yards, just over the bar. Soyuncu headed his 44th minute cross over the bar, with Jack on the edge of the 6-yard box waiting to get on the end of it.         

Douglas Luiz – 8 – Looked worth every penny that we paid last night, and he will get better.              

Marvelous Nakamba – 8 – Lived up to his surname, won the ball at will, worked tirelessly and made a couple of decent passes to boot.            

Jack Grealish – 9 – Played an excellent ball to Guilbert, who had started his run just too early and although Samatta turned home the resulting 26th minute cross, it had already been correctly flagged offside. Worked a shooting opportunity inside the box with 3 defenders around him after Targett had played the ball into him, but his shot was just wide of the left post. Hit a dangerous 63rd minute cross into the box that Chilwell dived to head out for a corner with Guilbert behind him, having made a good run.                          

Mbwana Samatta – 7 – A promising debut. It was asking a lot of him to come into a game like this one after such a short time at the club and to lead the line. He provided opposition defenders with a striker to worry about at last. He also got into the right place at the right time a couple of times and can be putting those sorts of chances away before too long. Picked up a loose ball and played it wide to Targett; who then played a one-two with Jack before hitting a 38th minute cross, that our new striker was just unable to turn towards goal. Jack played a perfect ball into the box from a central position that just needed a touch from Samatta, at the end of his well-timed 64th minute run. He was inches away from connecting with it and the ball went just wide of the left-hand post. Worked hard and was understandably tiring when substituted on 67 minutes.              

Substitutes:

Keinan Davis – 7 - Replaced Samatta after 67 minutes, making a very welcome return from injury. Keinan made a positive impression during the time that he had on the field to do so. He looked lively and was a handful for tiring defenders. Made a terrific strong run into the box on 87 minutes.   

Mahmoud Trezeguet – 7 - Came on for El Ghazi after 77 minutes and scored our late winner on 93 minutes. Elmo floated a curling cross into the box, which he made a splendid run onto, before hitting the inviting ball past Schmeichel and into the far corner of the net. Had earlier ran onto a ball played through 2 defenders by Davis, ran inside the box and had his 82nd minute shot gathered by Schmeichel at his near post.

Ahmed Elmohamady – Came on for Guilbert on 84 minutes. Not on long enough to gather a rating, but he was on long enough to hit the sublime cross, that resulted in our glorious winner and gave him the assist.  

Win the cup Villa!

John Lewis

[Rodders]

Great match report John, cheers. Agree with much of it, just one thing

Quote

Last night will live long in our memories. We have secured a fifth Wembley appearance in five years

 

last two play-off finals, the fa cup final in 2014 and... whats the other one?

[sparrow1988]

15 minutes ago, Rodders said:

Great match report John, cheers. Agree with much of it, just one thing

 

last two play-off finals, the fa cup final in 2014 and... whats the other one?

The FA cup semi final in 2015. They play those at Wembley too. Why? I'll never know.

Edited January 29, 2020 by sparrow1988
year change

[Rodders]

of course, how could I forget. That was a great game!

[Zatman]

5 minutes ago, Rodders said:

Great match report John, cheers. Agree with much of it, just one thing

 

last two play-off finals, the fa cup final in 2014 and... whats the other one?

2015 was the FA Cup

[John]

Two dire Wembley appearances and two great ones so far since 2015. Here's hoping for another one to remember for the right reasons, rather than one that we would rather forget, but can't.

[John]

1 hour ago, Zatman said:

2015 was the FA Cup

Don't remind me.