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Ollie Watkins came to Aston Villa\u2019s rescue as Unai Emery\u2019s side hit back to beat AZ Alkmaar.<\/p>\n
The striker celebrated his England call-up to nod in with nine minutes left for a 2-1 win and put Villa on the brink of the Europa Conference League knockout stages.<\/p>\n
Diego Carlos\u2019 controversial goal \u2013 heading in a corner which should have never been given \u2013 quickly cancelled out Vangelis Pavlidis\u2019 opener.<\/p>\n
Victory left Villa joint-top of Group E, behind Legia Warsaw on their head-to-head record, knowing a point from their final two games would guarantee progress.<\/p>\n
Legia\u2019s 2-0 win over Zrinjski Mostar earlier on Thursday had put the Polish side three points clear in the group.<\/p>\n
Villa knew victory would virtually secure second spot and their superiority was telling early, the hosts thinking they had the lead after just three minutes.<\/p>\n
Ezri Konsa\u2019s shot was deflected behind and, from the corner, Watkins header was cleared off the line by Pavlidis. The ball ran to Leon Bailey and his cross was nodded in by Clement Lenglet \u2013 only for VAR to rule the goal out with Bailey offside.<\/p>\n
Lenglet almost gifted Alkmaar an opener, though, when Pavlidis seized on his loose pass and tried to lob Emi Martinez before horribly misjudging Ibrahim Sadiq\u2019s superb cross.<\/p>\n
Mat Ryan tipped Youri Tielemans\u2019 shot behind as Villa looked to regain some momentum but there would have been frustration for Emery as their early edge slipped away.<\/p>\n
Alkmaar even had their own goal disallowed three minutes before the break when a neat move ended with Pavlidis tapping in, although the striker was comfortably offside.<\/p>\n
The striker then tested Martinez after Villa played themselves into trouble as the visitors ended the half on top.<\/p>\n
It proved a warning sign as, six minutes into the second half, the striker opened the scoring with a goal of pure simplicity.<\/p>\n
Villa were caught out by Riechedly Bazoer\u2019s ball over the top as Pavlidis ran clear of Lengent and beat Martinez for his 15th goal of the season.<\/p>\n
Alkmaar had something to cling to, having been 3-0 down at the same stage in the Netherlands two weeks ago, and Yuki Sugawara\u2019s shot deflected wide.<\/p>\n
Yet Villa contentiously levelled after an hour. Lucas Digne\u2019s cross was blazed over by Boubacar Kamara but referee Luis Godinho inexplicably gave a corner.<\/p>\n
Somewhat inevitably, when Bailey delivered the ball Diego Carlos nodded in.<\/p>\n
It gave Villa renewed confidence and, with time running out, Watkins grabbed the winner when he stole in ahead of Jordy Clasie to nod in Douglas Luiz\u2019s fine pass.<\/p>\n