Collapse in Deventer – Go Ahead Eagles Claim Historic Win Over Premier League Giants

In one of the most remarkable nights of this Europa League campaign, Go Ahead Eagles claimed a historic 2-1 win over Aston Villa, ending the English side’s perfect record and igniting wild celebrations inside De Adelaarshorst.

The Eredivisie club, competing in European football for the first time, came from behind to earn a victory that will be remembered for generations in Deventer. For Villa and head coach Unai Emery, it was a sobering reminder that control and possession mean little without ruthlessness.

Go Ahead Eagles Rise to the Occasion

It began as expected, with Villa asserting dominance early on. Evann Guessand gave the visitors the lead after only four minutes, capitalising on a handling error by goalkeeper Jari de Busser to poke the ball home. From there, Villa looked comfortable, with Jadon Sancho and Ollie Watkins both going close to extending the lead.

🔥 Historie geschreven pic.twitter.com/hg5kZfUdUg

— Go Ahead Eagles 🦅 (@GAEagles) October 24, 2025

But the hosts refused to crumble. Their resilience was rewarded three minutes before half-time when Mathis Suray’s deflected effort looped over Emiliano Martínez, levelling the contest against the run of play. The equaliser transformed the atmosphere, and belief began to spread among the 9,598 fans packed inside the tight, atmospheric ground.

That belief became reality on 61 minutes when full-back Mats Deijl surged through an exposed Villa defence to lift the ball over Martínez for a stunning second. De Adelaarshorst erupted as the underdogs turned the game on its head, seizing a moment that encapsulated the romance of European football.

Villa Wasteful and Punished

For Unai Emery, it was a familiar tale of dominance without execution. Villa had 12 shots to their opponents’ three before Suray’s goal, yet they failed to kill the game off. When Emiliano Buendía blazed a late penalty over the bar, their fate was sealed.

It was Villa’s fourth missed spot-kick in five European attempts — a costly trend that continues to haunt them. Emery’s post-match assessment was measured but frustrated:

“Even dominating chances, we conceded mistakes, some chances. We must accept it. We have broken the good form we have and I hope we recover quick,” he said, acknowledging that his side’s wastefulness and defensive lapses had undone weeks of good work.

For Go Ahead Eagles, this was more than just three points. Having ended a 92-year wait for major silverware by winning the Dutch Cup last season, they now have a European scalp to match.

Their spirit and organisation made up for any gap in quality, earning a win that will echo far beyond the banks of the IJssel.