Aston Villa on Friday missed a chance to go top of the Premier League, with manager Unai Emery proclaiming that the video assistant referee (VAR) was “too much” after Nicolo Zaniolo’s late goal salvaged a 1-1 draw at home against struggling Sheffield United.
The visitors began the game at the bottom of the table, with Birmingham club Villa having won their past 15 home games in the Premier League.
However, Cameron Archer, sold by Villa to the Blades in the preseason, stunned the home fans at Villa Park by opening the scoring in the 87th minute with a close-range shot.
Photo: Reuters
Substitute Zaniolo rescued a point for Villa with a header seven minutes into stoppage-time.
Villa needed a win to go top of the Premier League for the first time since August 2011, having not led the table at this stage of the season for 25 years.
However, they remained behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference despite dominating possession and having the better of the game’s chances.
Photo: AP
Arsenal are to play third-placed Liverpool tomorrow Taiwan time, giving them a chance to reclaim the outright lead.
Leon Bailey had the ball in the net early in the second half, but it was ruled out by the VAR, which also rejecting three Villa penalty claims.
“I am very happy and very proud of the players,” Emery told the BBC.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“It was very difficult to keep our winning record. They defended really well,” he added.
“I accept VAR always, but only today I think it was too much,” he said. “It was not necessary to review two or three times in the first half. And the goal, it was not necessary. Normally we can accept this goal.”
“We are disappointed with the result today, but we are accepting it. We have to focus for the next match against Manchester United, it will be incredible,” Emery added.
Villa thought they had gone ahead in the 58th minute when Watkins intercepted as Sheffield United tried to clear a corner and exchanged passes with Jacob Ramsey.
The England striker then crossed for Bailey to sweep in, but the goal was disallowed when Ramsey was ruled to have fouled Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham at the corner.
Another VAR reprieve for the visitors came 15 minutes later when Baldock came through a handball review.
Sheffield United struck three minutes from the end of regulation time.
Vini Souza’s free-kick found Gustavo Hamer and the midfielder’s fine piece of skill took John McGinn out of the game.
The substitute then cut the ball back for Archer to convert from 6m.
Foderingham saved Alex Moreno’s header, but Villa equalized when Zaniolo headed in Douglas Luiz’s cross.
Additional reporting by staff writer
SERIE A
AP, ROME
SS Lazio on Friday moved into the top half of Serie A when they beat Empoli 2-0.
Matteo Guendouzi got the opener after eight minutes when he rifled home through a crowd of players following a goalmouth scramble.
Mattia Zaccagni doubled the lead midway through the second half when he stabbed home from close range.
Empoli have the poorest attack in the league with just 10 goals in 17 games. The result left them third from bottom on the Serie A table ahead of the rest of the weekend’s games.
In the other early game, Genoa came from behind to beat US Sassuolo 2-1 and end their four-game winless streak.
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