Chukwueze helps Villarreal maintain 100% record in slim Austria Wien win

Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze played his part as Villarreal continued their winning run in the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League group stages on Thursday night.

Unai Emery's men secured a slim 1-0 victory over their hosts Austria Wien at the Generali Arena in Vienna, Austria as they remained top of Group C with 12 points.

Senegalese forward Nicholas Jackson was the hero of the night, with the second-half substitute grabbing the game's only goal three minutes from full-time.

Villarreal visited bottom-placed Austria Wien in search of a victory that would put them one foot into the playoffs of the Europa League this season. 

Emery fielded a 3-5-2 formation with Arnaut Danjuma and Giovanni Lo Celso leading the line, Chukwueze on the wing and veteran goalkeeper Pepe Reina in goal for the Yellow Submarines.

Despite being the away side, Villarreal dominated the ball possession, grabbing 63% of the ball but they failed to create quality chances from their dominance.

Austria Wien had more scoring chances (five shots on target) than their Spanish visitors (two shots on target) despite seeing less of the ball.

A double change in the 56th minute saw Jose Luis Morales and Nicholas Jackson come on for Francis Coquelin and Danjuma respectively as Villarreal went in search of the game's opener.

The goal did not come until the 87th minute when both substitutes, Morales and Jackson, combined to give the Yellow Submarines the lead. 

It was Jackson's first goal for Villarreal in the Europa League this season, with the Villarreal Academy graduate bagging his second goal of the season since he scored against Real Valladolid on Matchday 1.