Aston Villa drew 2-2 against Liverpool at Villa Park on Monday as the Premier League match result kept their Champions League aspirations alive.
Villa fought back from a losing position. The match was filled with twists and turns. It had fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
Down with five minutes left, Villa seemed defeated after an own goal by Emiliano Martinez and a miss by Diego Carlos. However, substitute Jhon Durán scored two late goals that salvaged a crucial point and put Villa five points clear of Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs still have two games left for them. Hence, they can still theoretically overtake Villa. However, Villa's superior goal difference makes this unlikely. Celebrations erupted at the final whistle, with celebrity fan Tom Hanks among those rejoicing.
Villa last played in the European Cup in 1983. The match began disastrously with Martinez’s early own goal. Liverpool regained the lead after Villa equalised through Youri Tielemans. Diego Carlos missed a clear chance to equalise again. But Durán’s late heroics ensured a dramatic comeback.
England manager Gareth Southgate was in the crowd, likely observing players for the upcoming European Championship squad.
Aston Villa are now five points clear of Tottenham Hotspur. However, given their superior goal difference, Villa are in a strong position.
Aston Villa are now on the verge of returning to the top tier of European football.