Fenerbahce 0-1 Aston Villa: Sancho matches Kane & Foden feat as Villa seal Europa League last-16 place | OneFootball

Aston Villa fought hard to secure a 1-0 win at Fenerbahce in their penultimate Europa League group stage fixture on Thursday.

Villa started the game brilliantly, but Fenerbahce defended well to prevent them from taking an early lead.

The visitors made the breakthrough in the 25th minute, albeit through a piece of luck as Matty Cash’s cross was deflected into the path of Jadon Sancho. He nodded the ball past Ederson.

Sancho became the third Englishman to score in a major European competition in each of the last eight seasons, after Phil Foden and Harry Kane.

The Manchester United loanee should have doubled Villa’s lead before the break after he rounded Ederson, only for Milan Skriniar to make a vital block to keep his effort out.

Marco Bizot pulled off a good save to deny Talisca from restoring parity on the hour mark after he received a pass from compatriot Fred.

Villa responded quickly, with Cash’s powerful shot from 30 yards hitting the crossbar, much to the relief of the hosts.

Morgan Rogers had a goal disallowed for offside after he tapped Sancho’s cross into the net.

The offside flag also came to Villa’s rescue when Kerem Akturkoglu thought he had put Fenerbahce back on level terms from a rebound.

Villa did well to see out the rest of the contest, securing their place in the round of 16 with a game to spare.

Unai Emery’s side face Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday, before hosting RB Salzburg in their last league-phase fixture.