John McGinn’s goal against Lille in the Europa Conference League meant a lot to one Aston Villa man.
Villa arguably had their biggest game of the season on Thursday night. Villa Park hosted Lille in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final tie.
Unai Emery’s side are favourites to win the tournament and finally end their trophy drought.
While they made hard work of it, Villa managed to end the night with a slender 2-1 advantage to take to France.
Ollie Watkins netted an early opener before McGinn drilled in the second. Lille managed to get one back late on, however, it was job done for Emery’s side.
The highlight of the game was by far McGinn’s sensational strike which one Villa man in particular loved.
Aston Villa set-piece coach ‘loved’ John McGinn’s goal
While both of Villa’s goals came from set-pieces, it was McGinn’s that was the highlight of the game.
After the ball deflected wide for a corner, the ball flew to the Scotsman who rifled it into the net on the edge of the box.
It was fantastically worked from the hosts, with no one near McGinn, it allowed him the time to pick his spot.
BBC 5 Live reporter Tom Gayle reported that set-piece coach Austin MacPhee was ‘delighted’ with the goal. He said: “Villa set-piece coach Austin MacPhee enjoyed that goal. He was watching on from the edge of the technical area with Unai Emery in the dugout.
“Clearly something they have crafted on the training ground.”
Set pieces once again pay off for Aston Villa
It is no secret that Villa excels at attacking set pieces. The hosts are known for their threat off dead balls and they took full advantage of that once again.
Earlier this campaign, Villa became the first team in Europe to score 20 times from set plays and now they have added two more to their collection.
McGinn’s goal was brilliantly taken which has helped the hosts now take an advantage to France for their second leg.
However, if the club are to progress, MacPhee must also do work down the other end of the pitch.
The hosts once again conceded from a set play right at the end to keep Lille in the tie. This will no doubt be a concern for plenty of Villa fans for the second leg and hopefully, MacPhee can sort the issue quickly.
