Martinez the hero as Aston Villa reach semi-finals

Emi Martinez was Aston Villa's penalty shoot-out villain turned hero as they reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals.

Villa beat Lille 4-3 on penalties after rescuing a 3-3 draw on aggregate - but that does not tell the full story.

Matty Cash's late goal (87) forced an extra 30 minutes after Yusuf Yasici (15) and Benjamin Andre (67) had seen Lille come from a 2-1 deficit from the first leg to lead the tie 3-2.

But nothing could separate the sides after 210 minutes and two legs, needing penalties to decide the quarter-final. A shoot-out that was marred in confusion.

Goalkeeper Martinez - who saved two spot kicks to send Aston Villa through - had already been booked in the first half for time wasting, and was shown another yellow card during the shoot-out.

Martinez later clarified what he was doing to warrant another yellow from the referee, telling TNT Sport: "In the shoot-out, there was no ball on the penalty spot and I was asking for a ball from the ball boy... and then I get booked.

"I just don't understand the rules. I know my team-mates need me and I own my box. I just used all my experience."

It left many wondering why the accumulation of two yellows did not result in a red. However, IFAB rules state that no yellow cards from the game carry over into shoot-outs, and therefore Martinez was not sent off.

He continued to take part in the penalty shootout, saving the final spot kick from Andre and seeing Aston Villa into their first European semi-final since 1982.