FOOTBALL – ASTON Villa took an early lead but fell to a 2-1 defeat by Go Ahead Eagles yesterday as Emiliano Buendia missed the chance to equalise from the penalty spot, bringing to an end the English side’s perfect start to their Europa League campaign.
Olympique Lyonnais are on maximum points after their 2-0 win over Basel. Braga also made it three wins from three by beating Red Star Belgrade 2-0 while Rangers’ new manager Danny Rohl began life at the Scottish club with a 3-0 loss at SK Brann.
Go Ahead conceded in the fourth minute when their goalkeeper Jari De Busser punched away Jadon Sancho’s cross, but the ball fell kindly for Evann Guessand to poke home and score his first goal for Villa.
Guessand should have had his, and Villa’s, second goal before the half-hour mark when sent through on goal by Buendia’s perfectly weighted pass, but the forward put his shot straight at the keeper.
Villa were left ruing several misses when the hosts levelled three minutes before the break after Calvin Twigt floated a free kick towards the opposition area.
Mathis Suray surprised Villa’s high line with his run from deep to collect the ball in the box and had time to control on the turn before getting his shot away, which took a wicked deflection on its way to the far top corner.
Go Ahead took the lead in the 61st minute. Joris Kramer sent a ball over the top into the area which Mats Deijl chested down before lifting his composed finish over the onrushing goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Villa were handed a lifeline 11 minutes from time when Matty Cash’s pullback from the byline was handled in the area by Dean James. Buendia stepped up and sent his spot kick over the bar and into the celebrating home fans behind the goal.
Villa remain on six points, following their wins over Bologna and Feyenoord. Go Ahead are also on six, having beaten Panathinaikos last time out.
Lyon were ahead after three minutes when a poor pass out from the Basel keeper was pounced on by Mathys de Carvalho, who passed to Corentin Tolisso to finish off and Afonso Moreira’s 90th-minute goal wrapped up the win.
Braga, who had already beaten Feyenoord and Celtic, maintained their perfect start thanks to goals from Fran Navarro and Mario Dorgeles.
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