Aston Villa has made history by securing their first major European semi-final since 1982, clinching a chaotic victory on penalties against Lille in the Europa Conference League. (video)

In an electrifying shootout that followed a 3-3 aggregate draw after extra time, Villa's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez stole the spotlight. Despite receiving a yellow card earlier in the match for time-wasting, Martinez was not deterred. He denied Nabil Bentaleb's attempt and crucially saved Benjamin Andre's shot, propelling Villa to a 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout.

Martinez's heroics didn't end there. In a display of jubilation, he sprinted the length of the pitch to celebrate with Villa's ecstatic traveling fans.

Earlier in the shootout, Ollie Watkins had to wait to take his penalty due to the presence of two balls on the pitch. Nevertheless, the English forward calmly converted his spot-kick.

The dramatic encounter saw Villa trailing 2-1 on aggregate before Matty Cash's 87th-minute deflected strike leveled the score, forcing the match into extra time and ultimately penalties.

Aston Villa's semi-final opponent will be determined by the outcome of the Olympiakos versus Fenerbahce fixture, with Olympiakos leading 3-2 from the first leg.

Martinez, who endured jeers from the Lille fans throughout the match, shrugged off the hostility to deliver a stellar performance. His penalty heroics in Argentina's World Cup triumph over France in 2022 had made him a target for the home supporters.

Despite the challenges faced, Villa demonstrated resilience to keep their European dreams alive. While the Europa Conference League may be UEFA's third-tier competition, Villa's journey has been nothing short of captivating.

Their advancement not only signifies a historic milestone but also keeps their hopes alive for a top-four finish in the Premier League and a shot at claiming their first major European trophy in 42 years under the stewardship of manager Unai Emery.