"Aston Villa ran out 2-0 winners against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League on a night when the football was threatened to be overshadowed by events away from the pitch. An Ian Maatsen strike and Donyell Malen penalty ensured Unai Emery's took all three points amid a heightened police presence at Villa Park. More than 700 officers lined the streets before kick-off following a blanket ban on Maccabi fans designed to quash any prospect of clashes with pro-Palestine supporters."
"Emery insisted his only focus had been the football, but he will have been far from comforted by what he saw in a largely lacklustre first 45 minutes from his team. The visitors went close when captain Dor Peretz found Osher Davida inside the Villa penalty area, but his effort took a slight deflection, taking it past Emi Martinez's far post. But Villa started shifting up the gears, Morgan Rogers weaving past three players before drawing a save from Roei Mishpati in the Maccabi goal."
"It would prove costly. Minutes later, Villa ensured they would go into half-time in front after Rogers, Jadon Sancho and Maatsen combined down the left before the latter squeezed the ball in off the crossbar from an almost impossible angle. The Dutch full-back nearly doubled his tally for the night shortly after the restart when his long-range drive was saved by Mishpati, while Malen poked wide from the rebound."
Aston Villa beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-0 in the Europa League, with Ian Maatsen scoring before half-time and Donyell Malen converting a penalty on the hour. More than 700 officers were deployed after a blanket ban on Maccabi fans aimed to prevent clashes with pro-Palestine supporters. West Midlands Police reported six arrests before kick-off, including three for racially aggravated public order offences. Villa started slowly but improved, creating chances through Morgan Rogers and Jadon Sancho before Maatsen's angled finish. Malen's penalty followed contact on Ezri Konsa and secured the three points for Unai Emery's side.
Read at 101GREATGOALS.COM
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