League Two Stevenage staged an incredible late comeback to stun Premier League Aston Villa at Villa Park and reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.
The visiting player and manager Steve Evans celebrated with his supporters at full-time after scoring twice in the final two minutes to seal a stunning victory.
Substitute Dan Campbell fired in a stunning winner in the 90th minute after Jamie Reid equalized from the penalty spot – the spot-kick was awarded to last man Lander Dendonker after he was shown a straight red card for bringing down Campbell.
Morgan Johnson’s first goal for Villa gave Unai Emery’s side a half-time lead over a team 59 places lower in the football pyramid.
But the hosts, despite their overall lead, failed to extend their advantage and were made to pay in a dramatic end to the match.
Fourth-tier Stevenage’s reward is a trip to Championship outfit Stoke City in the fourth round from January 27-30.
Villa exposed because of Stevenage.
By the 84th minute, it all looked fairly straightforward for Aston Villa.
But their bid to end their worst FA Cup losing streak – which stretches to an eighth match – was derailed the moment Dendoncker was dispossessed on the edge of his own box and grabbed Campbell’s shirt. took
Referee Graham Scott initially appeared to award the free kick but then red carded and pointed to the spot, with the video assistant referee confirming the penalty.
Reid held his nerve to send Robin Olsen the wrong way and put Stevenage on course for a replay – a feat that would have been a feat in its own right.
But the league two side weren’t done yet and some quick thinking from Jack Reeves to get his corner to Campbell resulted in the 21-year-old Scot sending the fans into raptures with a shot into the bottom corner.
Villa have now progressed with just one FA Cup tie since reaching the 2015 final. Stevenage, meanwhile, are the first fourth-tier side to beat a Premier League side in an FA Cup tie away for four years.
Made to pay the futile villa
A manager with a rich history in cup competitions, four-time Europa League winner Emery made his intentions clear this week as he announced he was preparing his squad for the match with the aim of “winning the FA Cup”. .
Five years after joining Barcelona in a £142m move from Liverpool in January 2018, Brazilian Philippe Coutinho started among eight changes from Villa’s midweek Premier League draw with Wolves.
The hosts dominated from the start – they finished the match with an average of 78.6% possession – but Douglas Luiz’s long-range effort was the only test for goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond before Stevenage’s first warning was served. .
Luke Norris was unlucky to mistime his run slightly before he provided a superb assist to Danny Rose to set up what the visitors momentarily believed was a shock opener. .
An intricate passing move set up Villa’s opener, Angus teeing up Frenchman Sanson for his first goal for the club, but Stevenage held on and almost had a superb equalizer when Norris headed home a cross. Skimmed the top of the bar with a perfect curled effort.
They continued to defend strongly as Villa increased the pressure after the break.
Perhaps too eager to impress in his first start under Emery, the misfiring Coutinho left the field after 65 minutes, having scored a match-leading five attempts but landed just one on target.
There was little to suggest the match would end that way. After all, Stevenage scored with just two of their shots on target. But what unfolded will live long in the memory of the 3,000 traveling fans who were there to witness a truly memorable fightback.
