Aston Villa 2 Olympiacos 4: El Kaabi hat-trick has Villans’ European hopes hanging by thread in front of Prince William

ASTON VILLA were skewered by Moroccan hitman Ayoub El Kaabi who helped himself to a hat-trick to leave Villa’s Conference League final hopes hanging by a thread.

In front of watching Villa fan Prince William, Olympiacos’s star striker stunned Villa with two rapid first-half strikes.

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Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby gave Villa hope with goals either side of half-time to pull the home side level.

But El Kaabi fired the Greeks back in front from the penalty spot before Santiago Hezze restored their two goal lead to leave Villa requiring a miraculous comeback in the return leg.

However, their hopes weren’t helped when Douglas Luiz missed a late penalty kick – his first failure in five attempts this season.

If Unai Emery‘s programme notes were anything to go by his players must have been breaking down the door to get at Olympiacos.

Emery, a serial winner with FOUR Europa League trophies already in the bag, rallied the Villa support ahead of their first European semi-final since 1982.

The Spaniard wrote: “Forty-two years later and here we go again in a European semi-final. The giant is awake again but the journey is not complete.

“This is football and all of us – myself included – we want the giant running and conquering, not only awakening.”

But it was Villa who were in for a rude awakening as they found themselves two goals down inside the opening half hour as Olympiacos ran riot.

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Villa then thought they had grabbed an early lead after nine minutes when Douglas Luiz worked a short corner with Moussa Diaby and crossed to the back post.

Ezri Konsa kept the ball in play and the ball bounced off Vicente Iborra’s head and flew to Leon Bailey who headed home from close range.

But Villa’s celebrations were cut short when Italian ref Marco Guida ruled it out and penalised Clement Lenglet for shoving Iborra over in the build up.

But Olympiacos oozed confidence and they carved Villa open to seize the lead after 16 minutes.

Portuguese playmaker Chiqhuino pounced on a stray ball and clipped a perfectly weighted pass beyond the Villa backline.

El Kaabi was on it like a flash, holding off Lucas Digne to fire left-footed, high beyond Robin Olsen.

At first Villa thought their famed offside trap would rescue them again. 

But, after an agonising 90 second wait VAR confirmed Matty Cash’s trailing foot was level with El Kaabi.

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To the Greek’s they had further cause to party 13 minutes later when they doubled their lead to silence Villa Park.

Former Wolves winger Daniel Podence sprang the offside trap again with a cute chip and, as Digne stepped out, El Kaabi stepped in.

The Morrocan striker nodded the ball beyond Olsen before finishing expertly to bag his sixth goal in six games and his 25th of the season. 

Villa were reeling and Emery read the riot act during a break in play.

It worked because they battled back to level with a goal either side of half-time.

Villa should have had a penalty when Ortega tripped Bailey in the box but amazingly ref Guida didn’t award it and VAR failed to step in.

But the drama wasn;t over as Villa pulled one back in their next attack.

Cash found Diaby whose defence splitting pass picked out Ollie Watkins who calmly found the far corner to bag his 26th goal of the season.

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Sadly, there was drama in the stands at half-time when a fan had to be treated for a suspected heart attack.

But after a five minute delay the teams returned and Villa sensationally drew level within seven minutes of the restrat.

Lenglet’s long ball out of defence found Bailey who slipped in Diaby and the Frenchman slammed the ball past Tzolakis who was beaten at his near post.

Olympiacos were reeling but were handed a lifeline – literally – when Douglas Luiz stretched out his arm to block Panagiotis Retsos’ header following a Fortounis corner with his hand.

Ref Guida spotted the offence and El Kaabi completed his hat-trick, sending Olsen the wrong way from the spot.

Incredibly, Olympiacos restored their two-goal lead midway through the second half with a freak fourth.

Santiago Hezze tried a speculative potshot and the ball spun off Konsa’s back to leave Olsen helpless.

Villa then squandered that late Luiz penalty – to leave themselves a giant-sized task in the return.

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