Aston Villa top Europa Conference group after draw with Zrinjski
As Unai Emery’s men merely needed to avoid defeat to win Group E and steer clear of the knockout play-off round, the visitors could be forgiven for the leisurely pace they played at in a subdued first half.
The Premier League high-flyers enjoyed boatloads of possession but were faced with a stubborn Zrinjski rearguard that very rarely broke free from their low block.
Nicolò Zaniolo was the man looking to make things happen, and he should’ve put Villa ahead inside two minutes when his close-range strike floated over the bar.
The Italian had efforts from distance that were comfortably saved, while he turned provider to tee up Jhon Duran on the half-hour mark, but the forward’s flick lacked power and was also easily thwarted.
An even more low-key start to the second period called Emery into action from the bench, introducing Lucas Digne and John McGinn before the hour mark.
The pair made an immediate impact, as Digne found McGinn, and the Scotman’s pinpoint cross was brilliantly controlled and turned home by Zaniolo.
Falling behind released the shackles the Zrinjski players were previously under, and they started to threaten an equaliser.
Josip Ćorluka had their most notable opportunity, seizing on a loose ball at the back post after Villa had failed to clear a corner, but with the goal at his mercy, his shot drifted wide of the far post.
There was another late scare for the visitors when young goalkeeper Filip Marschall cannoned the ball off his own defender, but fortunately for Villa, Aldin Hrvanović fired over from point-blank range.
Marschall had barely needed to make a save all night, but unfortunately for Emery’s men, there was nothing he could do to stop Zrinjski levelling the match in the closing stages.
Cutting in from the left, Matija Malekinušić unleashed a glorious strike into the top corner that sealed a historic result for the Bosnian outfit.
It also stopped a four-match losing streak in the UECL, and although being pegged back had no effect on Villa’s standing as group winners, Emery’s frustration was clear after a lacklustre display.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Nicolò Zaniolo (Aston Villa)
