Jadon Sancho fires Premier League side into Europa League last-16

THE last time Jadon Sancho scored he won a European Trophy.

And his 25th-minute winner last night fired Aston Villa into the last 16 of the Europa League.

The on-loan Manchester United star’s bullet header was his first goal for Unai Emery’s men.

His last goal came in Chelsea’s 4-1 win in the Europa Conference League final over Real Betis.

But Villa were indebted to a brilliant goalkeeping display from Marco Bizot, who made a string of saves in the Turkish capital.

Sancho, 25, has almost become a forgotten man in the Premier League — having only started two top-flight games this season.

But his header was perfectly placed to win in the Turkish capital.

Yet Emery did not seem to be in a celebratory mood — appearing to snub Youri Tielemans’ handshake when he took him off in stoppage time, pushing him away in an apparent rage.

Last night Villa were up against ex-Aston Villa players in Jhon Duran and Marco Asensio.

Tyrone Mings was back in the side for the first time since October when Villa lost 2-1 against Go Ahead Eagles.

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The hosts were celebrating a great last-ditch tackle like a winner when Jayden Oosterwolde slid in to deny Morgan Rogers who was through.

And Mings sent a thumping header just over from Tielemans’ corner.

In what was a lively and opening start, Ollie Watkins thought he could race through the home defence but Milan Skriniar got a vital block in.

Bizot raced out to clear the danger just in the nick of time after Marco Asensio played a ball through looking for runners.

But Rogers cheeky reverse pass found Watkins down the other end but his effort was deflected behind by Mert Muldur.
Bizot then had to be alert to keep out another Asencio,

Mings showed great strength to muscle out Duran as he looked set to pull the trigger.

But Villa moved in front to silence the crowd.

Matty Cash delivered a cross from the right. The ball took a deflected flick off Ismail Yuksek for Sancho to head home from eight yards.

Emery’s side could have doubled their advantage but Miliano Buendia dithered before playing a pass for Morgan Rogers in a two-against-two and the danger was snubbed out.

Fred opened up his shoulders from 25 yards but his shot was on the rise and cleared the bar.

Villa cut open the Fenerbahce defence when Lamare Boarde bulldozed through the middle to play in Watkins.

But the striker had the ball taken off him as he was about to shoot by a superb Ismail Yuksek tackle.

Sancho wasted a wonderful chance before the break.

He was played through yet showed the touch of an elephant but still managed to get around Ederson — but Milan Skriniar cleared off the line.

Rogers failed to get on to the rebound and the ball bounced back of the referee before the Villa man fired home — but was ruled out because of the official’s assist.

Villa almost got off to a perfect start to the second half when Mings turned and shot in the area — with Watkins just failing to get a decisive touch

Former Man City keeper Ederson needed treatment after Buendia caught him accidentally in the face as he tried to slide a shot home.

Victor Lindelof came to Villa’s rescue to cut out Nelson Semedo’s cross after he danced free down the left.

Fenerbahce brought on their star player Talisca and he had Villa hearts in mouths twice in quick succession.

First he was denied by a wonderful point-blank stop from Bizot after being played in by Fred.

Then he saw a shot from the edge of the box kept out by the Villa keeper.

The was turning into a bit of a basketball game and Matty Cash thumped an effort off the left post.

Rogers thought he had put the game to bed when he slotted in unmarked but Sancho was offside before he played the pass.

Bizot then palmed out a Yuksek shot from the edge of the box,

Villa got a lifeline when Kerem Akturkoglu fired home but VAR spotted Duran offside in the lead-up.

Bizot then saved a Duran header.