Aston Villa’s winning run came to an end in Deventer.
Aston Villa suffered a huge upset in the Europa League as they were stunned 2-1 by Go Ahead Eagles.
Having turned a poor start to the season around, Aston Villa had not suffered a defeat in normal time since their 3-0 Premier League loss to Crystal Palace at the end of August.
It looked as if that run would continue in the fourth minute when Evann Guessand put them ahead with his first goal for the club.
However, the Eredivisie side, who qualified by winning the KNVB Cup last season, produced an improbable turnaround, Mathis Suray levelling in the 42nd minute before captain Mats Deijl completed the comeback just after the hour mark.
Emi Buendia, the hero of Villa’s win over Tottenham last Sunday, had a golden chance to rescue a point 11 minutes from time, but sent his penalty flying over the crossbar.
Villa continued to push for a leveller, but it never arrived as Go Ahead Eagles held on to seal a result that will go down as one of the most famous in their history.
Guessand opens account before Suray levels
Villa entered the game on a five-match winning run, which looked like it would continue when Guessand broke the deadlock.
A summer signing from Nice, Guessand bundled home after a miscommunication between goalkeeper Jari De Busser and a defender diverted Jadon Sancho’s cross into his path.
De Busser then denied Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia from close range as Villa sought to take full command, having already put themselves in an excellent position to make it three wins from three in the league phase.
Guessand was thwarted by De Busser after being played through by Buendia, and Villa were stunningly made to pay for his profligacy as Go Ahead Eagles levelled against the run of play, Suray’s effort taking a huge deflection and looping beyond a stranded Marco Bizot.
Eagles soar into lead
Chances were few and far between to start the second half amid heavy wind and rain, with Storm Benjamin making its presence felt.
But Go Ahead Eagles lived up to their name as skipper Deijl showed great composure when the opportunity came to put them in front, brilliantly controlling Joris Kramer’s long ball forward before poking the ball beyond Emi Martinez.
Villa boss Unai Emery responded by making four changes, with Morgan Rogers among those thrown into the fray following his stunning goal against Spurs.
Rogers cracked the outside of the post with a right-wing cross, but Villa’s best chance to level came when Dean James handled in the area.
Buendia stepped up his penalty was one to forget, with Villa never seriously threatening to level thereafter as the crowd packed into the 10,000 capacity De Adelaarshorst were sent into raptures by the full-time whistle.
What it means for Aston Villa
Villa will still be expected to progress from the league phase with little difficulty, but the performance and the level of effort they had to expend in a losing cause may of concern to Emery ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester City.
Able to celebrate a famous night, Go Ahead Eagles join Villa on six points from three games and will fancy their own chances of progressing to the knockouts.
