Aston Villa came from two goals down to beat Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 at Villa Park and finish second in the Europa League league phase, but the victory was overshadowed by an injury to striker Ollie Watkins. 

Watkins was forced off in the first half with a hamstring problem, adding to Villa’s growing injury list.

The hosts made a lively start, with Harvey Elliott nearly scoring inside 30 seconds on his first appearance in almost four months, only for Salzburg goalkeeper Alexander Schlager to make an unorthodox save. 

Despite that early scare, the visitors settled and began to control the game, testing Emiliano Martinez with a series of chances.

Salzburg took the lead after 33 minutes following a defensive mix-up, when Karim Konaté turned the ball in after Tyrone Mings was dispossessed. 

Villa went into half-time 1-0 down and their situation worsened shortly after the restart, as substitute Moussa Yeo flicked home a second goal to put the Austrian side firmly in command.

Villa responded after the hour mark, with Morgan Rogers pulling a goal back to swing the momentum. 

The equaliser arrived 15 minutes from time when Mings, making amends for his earlier error, powered in a header to level the match at 2-2.

The comeback was completed in dramatic fashion in the 87th minute. Nineteen-year-old Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, on as a substitute, found the corner from 15 yards to score his first goal for the club and send Villa Park into celebration.

While the win confirmed Villa’s top 8 position heading into the knockout stages, Unai Emery will be concerned by Watkins’ injury, with John McGinn, Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara already sidelined. 

Despite those worries, the late surge and breakthrough moment for Jimoh-Aloba capped a memorable European night for the hosts.

Aston Villa returns to domestic football with a home game to Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday February 1.