Stevenage dumps Aston Villa out of the FA Cup
League Two side Stevenage scored two late goals to dump Aston Villa out of the FA Cup. Unai Emery’s side looked set to go 1-0 thanks to Morgan Sanson’s goal in the 33ed minute, but it was stevenage who produced a Houdini act in the last few minutes of normal time for a famous win.
The home side had just six substitutes on the bench, but two of them, Jamie Reid and Dean Campbell, scored after coming on to turn the game upside down and complete a mammoth third-round killing spree.
Premier League vs League Two
Despite the gap in glass between the two teams, it was Stevenage who started the night better of the two.
The competition on both sides cut Villa open in the 17e minute when Danny Rose finished in style from a low cross from Luke Norris from the left wing, but the VAR ruled it out for offside.
However, Villa took the lead after beautiful teamwork in the middle of the park. Phillipe Coutinho found between Douglas Luiz who quickly pushed the ball to Leon Bailey, only for the Jamaican to lose it to Danny Ings.
The Englishman played Sanson who took a tap and then finished with confidence in the bottom left corner. It was Sanson’s first goal for the club since moving from Marseille to Villa Park two years ago.
Stevenage was unlucky not to be level in the 39e minute when Norris hit the post with a lovely shot from the left flank.
The winger was a constant threat to the home side who got the better of Matty Cash several times in the first half. Villa could have put the game to bed in the second half if Bailey and Ings hadn’t squandered chances themselves.
Late upset
Stevenage took the pressure and looked to hit the home side at the break and was decisive despite conceding a goal. It eventually became 1-1 in the 88e minute when Leander Dendoncker was sent off for a cynical tug on Campbell’s shirt.
The Belgian midfielder lost possession after receiving the ball from goalkeeper Robin Olsen on the edge of his own penalty area, which Campbell picked off before being obstructed by the goal.
Referee Graham Scott pointed to the spot and Reid stepped forward to go home to restore equality on the night.
Stevenage then scored their second of the night from a short corner kick and Campbell, who remained unmarked, drilled his shot past Olsen at the near post, much to the delight of the 3,000 away fans at Villa Park.
This was the seventh consecutive year Villa had gone out of the FA Cup in the third round. Stevenage, who wrote himself in the history books with the away win, now travels to Stoke City in the fourth round.
Photo credit: IMAGO/PA Images
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