Bottom club Wolves shock high-flying Aston Villa

Wolverhampton, march 1: João Gomes scored his first Premier League goal of the season and Rodrigo Gomes added a second in stoppage time to give bottom club Wolverhampton a shock 2-0 win over high-flying Aston Villa. It was only the second win in the league for a club that remains six points adrift at the bottom of the table and is almost certain to be relegated.

However, there was no hiding the joy felt by the home players and fans who were ecstatic at beating their Midlands rival. "You have to be pretty good to get a result like that against them," coach Rob Edwards said.

"I'm really proud. Nights like this are why I came here. To connect with the supporters like that. I know we are in a difficult position but I love football. I love it on nights like that."

The result was a bitter blow to Villa's Champions League aspirations and a slap in the face for coach Unai Emery, who was bidding to record his 100th victory in charge of the Birmingham club.

"Now is the moment to be together and understand how the season is going," Emery said. "We need to understand the moment we are in. We were already recovering because we drew two and won one but today we didn't get the result we needed. It is still in our hands to reach the ambitions in the top positions."

Both sides struggled in a dour first half but Wolves seized the initiative 16 minutes into the second period when Gomes gave them a surprise lead.

Adam Armstrong deftly cushioned a long pass right into the path of the onrushing Gomes and his superbly struck shot gave Emiliano Martínez no chance.

Villa pushed forward as the game went on and were caught out in stoppage time when Wolves doubled their lead on the break, Rodrigo Gomes doing the damage.

Villa have won only one of their last five league games. The result leaves them 10 points behind leaders Arsenal and five behind second-placed Manchester City, having played a game more than both.

Their next two matches are against the clubs immediately below them in the table, Chelsea and Manchester United.

"We need to keep playing how we are," Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers said. "We are in third for a reason, we need to not forget that. The run lately hasn't been the same, sometimes you have to come back down to earth as you are playing good teams which you could win or lose. That is the Premier League. We need to stay focused and get back to what we know.

"We didn't do anywhere near enough to create chances and score goals. We controlled the game so it isn't all doom and gloom. They took their chances and we didn't create enough."Similarly, Carlos Espí scored twice in the dying minutes to give Levante a 2-0 win over Alavés and a vital three points in their fight to avoid relegation from La Liga.

Espí, who came through the youth ranks at the Valencia-based club, had scored only once all season but tripled his tally with a blistering late show against an Alavés side that played the last half hour with 10 men after Víctor Parada was sent off.

Espí's deflected shot in the 88th minute put Levante ahead and he then sparked jubilant scenes with almost the last kick of the game when his assured finish rounded off a counterattack.

"This has been one of my greatest nights," the 20-year-old told broadcaster DAZN. "It's incredible."The result snapped a four-game losing streak for the home side. They remain second from bottom of La Liga but have cut the gap to the fourth-bottom club to four points.

Alavés are 14th but only three points clear of the relegation zone.

Likewise, Gaetano Oristanio came on at half-time and scored a late equaliser for Parma against Cagliari in a hard-fought 1-1 home draw in Serie A.

Oristanio's goal seven minutes from time earned Parma a point but their poor home form continued. They have won only two of their last 12 home games and have not won two in a row at Stadio Ennio Tardini since January 2020. Still, they have taken 10 points from their last 12 and move into 11th place, a point behind Lazio and a point ahead of Udinese.

Michael Folorunsho put Cagliari ahead 18 minutes into the second half with a stunning 30-metre strike.

The midfielder on loan from Napoli had missed the last 10 games through injury and was introduced just after the hour mark. Two minutes later, he spotted Parma goalkeeper Edoardo Corvi off his line and his dipping shot from near the right touchline flew over Corvi's head and into the far corner of the net.

The goal was Cagliari's first since January but leaves them without a win in four games. They sit in 13th spot, six points above the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Lens missed a chance to top Ligue 1 after they fought back from a goal down to draw 1-1 at Strasbourg.

Argentine striker Joaquin Panichelli scored for the third game in a row to put the home side ahead after 18 minutes at Stade de la Meinau.

Panichelli's 14th goal of the season tied him with Mason Greenwood at the top of the Ligue 1 goalscoring chart.

Lens fought back to equalise 17 minutes into the second half through Mamadou Sangare. A corner was cleared to Sangare's feet and his first-time drive flew through a forest of legs and into the bottom corner.

It was only the second draw in the league for Lens, who were the better team in the second half but found Strasbourg goalkeeper Mike Penders in top form.

A win would have taken them a point clear of league leaders and reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain but they remain a point behind in second, having played a game more. PSG are at Le Havre on Saturday.

Strasbourg, meanwhile, climbed into seventh. They have lost only two of their last 14 matches in all competitions. (AP)