Aston Villa's hopes of reaching the Europa Conference League final were hit by a chaotic semi-final first-leg defeat to Olympiacos.
Ayoub El Kaabi scored a hat-trick, with two of his goals coming in the opening half hour as the Greek side stunned the home fans at Villa Park to take a 2-0 lead.
Ollie Watkins reduced the deficit for Unai Emery's side on the stroke of half-time before Moussa Diaby equalised moments after the interval.
Olympiacos then roared back in front through El Kaabi's penalty, sealing his treble, and a deflected strike from Santiago Hezze.
Douglas Luiz missed a late penalty which means Villa must overturn a two-goal margin in the second leg in Piraeus on 9 May to reach their first European final since 1982.
El Kaabi began the goal flurry with a clinical finish. It was initially disallowed for an offside, but that was overturned by the video assistant referee (VAR).
The Morocco striker added a classy second when he latched on to Daniel Podence's clever pass over the top and slipped the ball under Robin Olsen.
Watkins pulled a goal back for Villa in added time in the first half with an angled finish from just outside the six-yard box.
Diaby then levelled as Konstantinos Tzolakis was beaten at his near post.
Villa seemed to have the momentum at that point but were sucker-punched by their visitors.
Douglas Luiz handled a Panagiotis Retsos header and El Kaabi coolly sent Olsen the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick to take his tally to eight goals in the competition.
There was more than an element of fortune to Olympiacos' fourth as Hezze's speculative effort flicked off the back of Ezri Konsa to wrong-foot Olsen.
Douglas Luiz had a late opportunity to atone for his error after David Carmo felled Jhon Duran but, to the incredulity of the home fans, he failed to hit the target.
Latest Stories
-
‘Stop this’: Ghanaian athletes appalled by treatment of tartan tracks at UG Stadium
13 mins -
‘It broke my heart’ – Deborah Acquah on being overlooked by MoYs in $8,000 support for athletes
14 mins -
Isaac Adams Amakye: Unveiling the Essence of Masculinity: Beyond Surface Notions
15 mins -
Breaking the mold: Empress Neeta redefines women’s role in Ghana’s showbiz
26 mins -
Man arrested at Kotoka Airport on suspicion of smoking cigarettes aboard Qatar Airways passenger flight
30 mins -
Government strong policy, reforms bearing fruit, showing signs of economic stabilsiation – IMF
48 mins -
‘I won’t lie on a good man like Ben Nunoo Mensah’ – Deborah Acquah
1 hour -
This is unnecessary – Martin Kpebu on Kissi Agyabeng’s impeachment petition
1 hour -
Ghana Olympic Committee president denied promising me support to get treatment – Deborah Acquah
2 hours -
Bawumia’s campaign is akin to a ‘comedy show’ – Deputy NDC Youth Organiser
2 hours -
Visionary Norman Foundation CEO leads cleanup initiative at the University of Cape Coast
2 hours -
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to grace 2024 African Mining Conference in Accra
2 hours -
‘My dream has always been to represent Cote d’Ivoire’ – Mohamed Diomande rejects Black Stars
2 hours -
Topi Amma – The mentally disabled woman worshipped as a divine mystic in India
2 hours -
Patronise local tourism to stabilise Cedi – Deputy Finance Minister to Ghanaians
2 hours