Martinez parades goalkeeper awards and justifies them with wonder save for Villa in Champions League
Aston Villa's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez talks to his players during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Astin Villa and Juventus at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024.(AP Photo/Rui Vieira)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Rui Vieira]
Emi Martinez began the night by walking onto the field with his children and parading a pair of trophies for being the world’s best goalkeeper for the last two years. He finished it by producing an astonishing save that vindicated those awards. The Argentina international illuminated a 0-0 draw between his Aston Villa team and Juventus in the Champions League by plucking the ball from behind him and scooping it off the goal line to deny Francisco Conceição what could have been the winner. Replays showed the ball was almost entirely over the line before Martinez hooked it clear.
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