Cornelius Breaks Villarreal Hearts with 90th-Minute Winner
Key Takeaways
- FC Copenhagen stunned Villarreal with a dramatic 2-3 victory at Estadio De La Cerámica
- Andreas Cornelius delivered the decisive blow in the 90th minute from close range
- Five goals in 89 minutes created an unforgettable Champions League thriller in Spain
- Both teams remain in bottom half of standings despite Copenhagen's crucial three points
The floodlights illuminated Estadio De La Cerámica as two struggling Champions League sides prepared for what would become an instant classic. Villarreal, languishing in 34th place with just one point, desperately needed victory against 29th-placed FC Copenhagen, but the Danish visitors had other plans as they secured a thrilling 2-3 victory that will live long in the memory.
The drama began almost immediately when Mohamed Elyounoussi stunned the home crowd in just the second minute, converting from very close range after Marcos López delivered a pinpoint cross from the left flank. The early goal silenced the Spanish faithful and set the tone for an evening of relentless attacking football.
The second half exploded into life with three goals in nine breathless minutes. Santi Comesaña leveled for Villarreal in the 47th minute, prodding home from very close range after Ilias Akhomach's clever assist. Just sixty seconds later, Elias Achouri restored Copenhagen's advantage, rifling a right-footed effort from the center of the box after Yoram Zague's dangerous cross found him unmarked. Villarreal refused to buckle, and Tani Oluwaseyi's composed left-footed finish in the 56th minute, set up brilliantly by Alfonso Pedraza, brought the scores level once more.
The tactical battle intensified as both managers made crucial substitutions. Villarreal dominated possession at 51.9% and registered more shots, but Copenhagen's clinical finishing proved decisive. Pape Gueye and Ilias Akhomach both collected yellow cards as frustrations boiled over, while the visitors showed remarkable composure under pressure.
The turning point arrived in the dying moments when substitute Andreas Cornelius, who had entered the fray in the 71st minute, found himself perfectly positioned in the center of the box. The Danish striker's left-footed strike flew into the top right corner in the 90th minute, sending the traveling Copenhagen supporters into raptures and leaving Villarreal's players devastated.
Despite Ayoze Pérez's late header that missed by inches in the 88th minute, Villarreal couldn't find the equalizer their performance arguably deserved. The five minutes of added time felt like an eternity for the home side, but Copenhagen held firm to claim their second Champions League victory of the campaign.
Villarreal will look to bounce back when they host AFC Ajax on January 20 in Matchday 7, desperately needing points to climb from the bottom of the table. Copenhagen, meanwhile, will aim to build on this momentum as they continue their European campaign, with this dramatic victory potentially serving as the catalyst for their Champions League revival.