Martinez parades goalkeeper awards and justifies them with wonder save for Villa in Champions League

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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)

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Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez makes a save on Juventus’ Francisco Conceicao during the UEFA Champions League opening phase soccer stage match at Villa Park, Birmingham, England, Wednesday Nov. 27, 2024. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)

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Aston Villa fans hola a banner before 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)

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A general view as pyrotechnics are set off during pre-match entertainment before the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Astin Villa and Juventus at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

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Aston Villa’s Diego Carlos battles for the ball with Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio during the UEFA Champions League opening phase soccer stage match at Villa Park, Birmingham, England, Wednesday Nov. 27, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

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Juventus players leave the pitch after 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)

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By STEVE DOUGLAS

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 on Wednesday 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, and the goalkeeper was quickly congratulated by his teammates.

No save by Martinez will ever beat the one he pulled off for Argentina in the last seconds of extra time in the 2022 World Cup final, denying France striker Randal Kolo Muani and keeping teammate Lionel Messi’s dream alive of finally winning soccer’s biggest prize.

He might just have run it close.

It was fitting he produced his wonder save against Juve on the night he showed off the two Yashin Trophies he claimed at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in each of the past two years. The most recent one came last month.

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As for Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, he finished the game relieved that what appeared to be a mistake in the final seconds of stoppage time didn’t cost his team.

Di Gregorio spilled a cross under pressure from Villa defender Diego Carlos and Morgan Rogers was there to poke the ball into the net.

A goal was awarded by the on-field referee but after a two-minute check, it was ruled out for a foul on Di Gregorio by Carlos.

“I think it was soft,” Villa striker Ollie Watkins said. “Maybe in the Premier League it’s a goal. But in Europe the goalkeepers are protected a lot.”

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer