Aston Villa just about fall short of historic remontada despite second-leg fightback against Paris Saint-Germain | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain made it through to the semi-finals of the Champions League with a 5-4 triumph on aggregate despite losing 3-2 to Aston Villa on Tuesday.

Goals from Desire Doue, Kvara Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes gave the French champions a 3-1 first-leg win, putting them in cruise control against Unai Emery’s side, who opened the scoring in Paris through Morgan Rogers.

With a two-goal deficit to make up, Aston Villa expectedly started the game with real intent as they looked to get themselves back in the tie.

Having ridden the early storm, PSG took the lead after 10 minutes with the inadvertent help of Emiliano Martinez.

The Villa shotstopper parried Bradley Barcola’s cross straight to Achraf Hakimi for the Moroccan to finish from point-blank range.

Martinez’s error leading to the PSG goal was largely as a result of a mix-up with Pau Torres, and the defender nearly made amends at the other end, drawing a fine save from Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Donnarumma was left scrambling shortly afterwards when Morgan Rogers’ effort went just wide of his left-hand post.

PSG ceded possession to Villa and opted to play on the counter, and the French champions showed their devastating nature on the break once again with a second goal on the night and a fifth in the tie overall.

Like they did for PSG’s third goal at the Parc des Princes last week, Dembele and Mendes combined once again to good effect, with the left-back sending a low curling effort beyond Martinez.

Luis Enrique’s men were threatening to run away with the game at this point, but Villa refused to go down without a whimper and grabbed a much-needed goal 10 minutes from half time.

Youri Tielemans was rewarded for his industry and interplay with John McGinn as the Belgian’s effort took a significant deflection off Willian Pacho into the PSG net.

Fabian Ruiz drew a comfortable stop out of Martinez for the final moment of attacking significance of the first half, at the end of which the away side went into the dressing room with one foot in the semi-final.

A defensive mix-up afforded Marcus Rashford a huge chance in the early exchanges of the second half, but the winger was denied by Donnarumma.

Villa were rewarded for their fine start to the second period as John McGinn sprinted almost the full length of the pitch before unleashing a stunning effort into the top corner.

Rashford called Donnarumma into action moments later, and from the resulting corner, the Manchester United loanee showed great feet to skip past a couple of challenges into the penalty area, where he found an unmarked Ezri Konsa to make it 3-2 on the night and 4-5 on aggregate.

Konsa’s goal raised the spirit at Villa Park, and Tielemans nearly sent the stadium into a frenzy with an equaliser, only for his close-range header to be palmed away by Donnarumma.

Marco Asensio was sent on by Emery with Villa pushing for a leveller, and the Spaniard had a glorious opportunity to make an instant impact but was unable to get the better of the PSG goalie.

Martinez needed to be at his best to keep out Dembele and Hakimi five minutes apart, with PSG pushing for a goal that would put the final nail in Villa’s coffin.

Doue had perhaps PSG’s best chance of sealing the game in the penultimate minute of normal time when he was played through on goal before Martinez got in the youngster’s way.

Ian Maatsen was denied by a last-ditch block from Pacho in what proved to be Villa’s final attacking flurry.

Despite putting up a valiant effort, Villa just about fell short in their remontada attempt as PSG progressed to the Champions League last four for a second straight season.

Les Parisiens will play either Arsenal or Real Madrid in the semi-final for a place in May’s grand finale at the Allianz Arena.