Aston Villa v AZ Alkmaar LIVE: Watkins winner earns Villa key Europa Conference League win

Aston Villa came from a goal down to beat AZ Alkmaar 2-1 and put one foot in the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

The visitors were significantly improved from the previous meeting between the sides, and took the lead early in the second half when the excellent Vangelis Pavlidis punished Villa on the break.

Both teams had goals disallowed in the first half, and AZ were furious when the home side equalised from a corner that should not have been given.

But Diego Carlos’ header gave Unai Emery’s side a route back into the game, and the Premier League outfit were the better side for much of the remainder of the game.

And the winning moment when it came was pure class, with Ollie Watkins heading substitute Douglas Luiz’s sublime chipped through-ball home to send Villa to nine points in Group E – a tally that should prove enough to send them through.

TNT Sports will show every UEFA Europa Conference League match live, from the group stage to the final, over the course of the 2023-24 season.

Watch the excellent goal that earned Aston Villa the win:

The final whistle goes as Aston Villa win 2-1. It wasn’t vintage Villa but the result is huge, giving them real control in the top of Group E.

Pavlidis has been a threat tonight and Villa breathe a sigh of relief as his long-range effort flies over the bar. One more minute for the hosts to hold out.

Five minutes will be played at the end of the 90. Can Villa hold on for a win that would hugely boost their campaign?

Diego Carlos is down and looks concerned about a possible injury here. It was hard to see what happened, but he’s coming off (walking off, which is a good sign) and Pau Torres replaces him for the final moments of the match. Traore also comes on for Bailey.

AZ make a final couple of changes for the final few minutes. Odgaard and Dantas come on.

AZ Alkmaar need a result here realistically to keep their qualification chances alive. Villa’s win would leave them level on nine points with Legia Warsaw at the top of the group, six points clear of the Dutch side with two rounds of matches remaining. So the visitors are throwing bodies forward now in search of pulling a goal back.

That second Villa goal was right out of the top drawer. It’s a moment of quality that has lit up the game and given them a lead that they just about deserve on the balance of play.

It’s OIlie Watkins and Villa are ahead. The striker has been a peripheral figure for large parts of the evening, but he shows quality when it matters, producing a lovely headed finish on the end of a sublime dinked through-ball from Douglas Luiz. 2-1!

Martinez charges out of his box to sweep up as AZ break beyond Villa’s high line.

Zaniolo drives forward and has a crack from range. It’s a comfortable save, but an encouraging first involvement for the sub.

Emery responds with some switches of his own. Cash, Luiz and Zaniolo all come on.

Can the new additions rediscover some spark for Alkmaar? They’ve been second best since the equaliser.

It’s the three behind the striker who’ve been replaced.

The visitors have freshened things up.

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Villa are a tad fortunate to be level, but they have been outstanding since the goal and are pushing hard for the lead.

The officials for some reason gave a corner from that Kamara miss, which was the wrong call. And Villa take full advantage, with Diego Carlos heading home the set-piece to level the scoring.