Evening Standard
·29 gennaio 2025
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Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·29 gennaio 2025
Thrilling Battle of Britain produces five-goal thriller
Morgan Rogers scored hat-trick and Ollie Watkins opened his Champions League account as Aston Villa beat Celtic 4-2 in a breathtaking game to seal their last-16 spot on Wednesday.
Rogers gave Villa a barnstorming start by scoring twice inside the opening five minutes, first steering in from close range and then planting a sublime dipping shot past Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Scottish league leaders Celtic, who like Villa were already assured of at least a playoff place, stormed back before halftime as Adam Idah stunned the hosts with a quick-fire double.
Watkins restored Villa's lead after a flowing move on the hour but scooped a penalty horribly over the crossbar to ensure a nervous finale at Villa Park.
Rogers wrapped it up in a stoppage time to complete his hat-trick. They will face either Sporting Lisbon, Club Brugge, Atalanta or Borussia Dortmund in the next round, with those teams first having to overcome a two-legged play-off.
Celtic will meet either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.