Aston Villa missed out on UEFA Champions League qualification thanks to a first-half red card and controversial second-half decision in what finished a 2-0 Manchester United win at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Villa played more than a half with 10 men when Emiliano Martinez was sent off for bodychecking Rasmus Hojlund on a last man back foul, but looked to have scored a goal that could send them to Europe in the second half.
RELATED — What Emery, McGinn said about controversial call
United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir bobbled a low collection and Morgan Rogers poked the ball away from the Turkish backstop before slotting inside the empty goal.
But the referee had blown his whistle prior to Rogers’ shot, so VAR was unable to review the possible goal.
WATCH — Manchester United v Aston Villa full match replay
It was soon 1-0 and then 2-0, as Amad Diallo scored then won a penalty converted by Christian Eriksen to deposit three points in Man United’s column.
Man Utd finish in 15th place with 42 points.
Villa’s 66 points are the fifth-biggest haul in the Premier League, but they finish behind Newcastle United on goal differential after the Magpies lost to Everton at St. James’ Park.
Aston Villa should feel as aggrieved as anyone in a while
Few were expecting Manchester United, fresh off a Europa League Final loss, to lose to a rested Villa who needed a win to return to the UEFA Champions League. So it was eerie watching United take hold of the game for the first 25 minutes and take a red card before halftime. Those things are all Villa’s fault, but they still would’ve reached the top five if they took a point or three. And they would’ve had the referee not blown a quick whistle when Morgan Rogers was taking advantage of Altay Bayindir’s bobbling of a ball just inside the 18. There was nothing that VAR could do to change a clearly bad call because of the whistle. Villa would’ve taken a 1-0 lead with about 20 minutes to play and would’ve just needed to keep United from scoring two goals. There’s no guarantee they would’ve done that, but it sure would’ve been likely given what we’ve seen from the Red Devils this season. This feels like as consequential an error we’ve seen in a table placement fight in a long, long, long time.
Manchester United vs Aston Villa player ratings
(via fotmob.com)
Manchester United vs Aston Villa player ratings (via fotmob.com)
Manchester United vs Aston Villa player ratings (via fotmob.com)
How to watch Manchester United vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11am ET Sunday (May 25)
Venue: Old Trafford — Manchester
TV Channel: CNBC
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Manchester United vs Aston Villa final score: 2-0
Amad Diallo 76', Christian Eriksen pen 87'
Manchester United vs Aston Villa live updates — by Nick Mendola
Christian Eriksen penalty — Man United 2-0 Aston Villa (87th minute)
Bruno hands the ball over to Christian Eriksen, and the veteran nails it.
Man Utd penalty
Amad Diallo is stamped in the box by Ian Maatsen, with the ball outside the box.
United will go to the spot.
Amad Diallo goal — Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa (76th minute)
Breakthrough!
Bruno Fernandes cues up a beautiful diagonal cross, and it becomes an assist when Amad Diallo nods past Robin Olsen.
Villa back into sixth, behind losing Newcastle on goal differential!
Scandal!
Altay Bayindir bobbles his collection of a ball in the 18, and Morgan Rogers deposits it in the goal.
But the whistle had blown, as the referee seemed to think Bayindir had a clean collection of the ball.
At the moment the call won’t keep Villa out of the top five, but if it does... awful.
Youri Tielemans in for McGinn
Can the Belgian inspire 10-man Villa to the three points they need?
Jacob Ramsey also enters the game, taking the place of Amadou Onana.
0-0, 63'.
Sub subbed
Dalot, who is not at full fitness, is pulled at halftime for Kobbie Mainoo.
Halftime — Man Utd 0-0 Aston Villa
What a wrench in the narrative — Man United have shown up in a big way and should’ve been in front long before Villa went down to 10 men.
As it stands Villa are out of the top-five on goal differential.
Robin Olsen subs in
Villa have to use a sub in first-half stoppage time to get a keeper in the game.
Aston Villa RED CARD! Emiliano Martinez red card video
Matty Cash’s poor back pass brings Rasmus Hojlund 1v1 with a charging Emiliano Martinez.
The keeper gets bang for his buck, dropping the Dane with his shoulder for a straight-forward red card.
This changes the European race!
Diogo Dalot smashes the bar
The Red Devils are very much the better performers through 29 minutes, and Villa have to wake up.
Noussair Mazraoui injury
It’s a leg injury, and Diogo Dalot will take Mazraoui’s place in the 20th minute.
Really not much going for Villa, who anyone following this post knows very much need a win.
Martinez in action again
Bruno Fernandes dart into the 18 for a feed from Amad Diallo, his shot into the chest of Martinez.
The hosts starting well after their Europa League Final disappointment.
Red Devils start very well
Emiliano Martinez has twice been called upon to keep it 0-0 in the fourth minute as Mason Mount leads Man United’s early charge.
Manchester United lineup
Bayindir, Mazraoui, Heaven, Maguire, Lindelof, Dorgu, Casemiro, Fernandes, Mount, Diallo, Hojlund
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, McGinn, Kamara, Onana, Asensio, Rogers, Watkins
Manchester United vs Aston Villa preview — by Joe Prince-Wright
Ruben Amorim’s United put in a pretty meek display in Bilbao as they lost 1-0 to Spurs and they will not be in European action next season. The Portuguese coach has said after the defeat that he will walk away from United if the board and fans don’t want him around anymore and his first six months in charge have clearly not gone to plan. United can finish 14th with a win against Villa, but that’s still their lowest-ever finish in the Premier League.
MORE — Final day scenarios for teams chasing European qualification
Unai Emery has Aston Villa right in the thick of the race for Champions League qualification, as eight wins from their last nine league games has them outside of the top five only on goal difference with one game to go. They are level on points with both Chelsea and Newcastle heading into the final day, while Nottingham Forest are just one point behind them. A win for Villa on the final day guarantees a spot in the Europa League group stage for next season but after their run to the quarterfinals of the Champions League this season they’ve proven they are ready for that competition year in, year out.
Manchester United team news, focus
There will be plenty of United players rotated out of the lineup after everything they put into the final on Thursday. Expect the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire and Casemiro to play a reduced role, while plenty of players were rushed back from injury early and may not feature. This is a perfect game for plenty of the youngsters to start to give some hope to United’s fans that next season, and the future in general, will be better.
OUT: Matthijs de Ligt (knee), Lisandro Martinez (torn ACL - MORE)
Aston Villa team news, focus
Emery has had a very settled lineup in recent weeks with Watkins up top and the trio of Rogers, Asensio and McGinn behind him. Onana and Kamara have been excellent in defensive midfield and that balance has kept Villa churning out results. Can they win one more game to give themselves a great chance of reaching their Champions League target?
OUT: Marcus Rashford (unable to face parent club + muscular) | QUESTIONABLE: Youri Tielemans (undisclosed)
Manchester United vs Aston Villa prediction
This feels like it will be a very easy away win for Villa give everything at stake for them and where United’s heads will be at. Manchester United 0-3 Aston Villa.
