Emi Martinez responds to the chaos of the penalty shoot-out in Aston Villa’s victory.

Emi Martinez, the Argentine goalkeeper for Aston Villa, believes that his “bad reputation” played a role in him receiving an apparent second yellow card during the team’s dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Lille. Martinez, who made two crucial penalty saves in the intense match at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, also seemed to taunt the home supporters, further escalating tensions.

During regular time, Martinez was booked for alleged time-wasting, and then saw another yellow card shown to him during the shoot-out. Referee Ivan Kruzliak believed that Martinez was continuing to provoke the Lille fans. This led to confusion, with many assuming that Martinez had been sent off, leaving Villa without a goalkeeper.

However, it was later clarified that according to IFAB law 10, yellow cards issued during the match do not carry over into penalty shoot-outs. Therefore, Martinez was not sent off despite receiving two yellow cards.

In an interview with TNT Sports after the match, Martinez expressed his disbelief at the referee’s decision to caution him again. He claimed that his bad reputation for time-wasting was the reason behind the booking, despite the opposing goalkeeper engaging in similar behavior. Martinez questioned the referee’s actions, especially considering the circumstances of the game.

Villa had a difficult time in France, falling behind 2-0 due to goals from Yusuf Yazici and Benjamin Andre. However, a late strike from Matty Cash leveled the score. Once again, it was Martinez who emerged as the hero, replicating his performance in the 2022 World Cup final for Argentina.

Martinez emphasized his belief in his ability to deliver in crucial moments and acknowledged the special bond within the team, including the manager and owners. He expressed his determination to achieve something significant for Aston Villa, whether it be qualifying for the Champions League or making an impact in the Conference League.

Overall, Martinez’s exceptional goalkeeping skills and his ability to handle pressure were instrumental in Aston Villa’s victory over Lille, despite the controversy surrounding his yellow cards.