Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze played his part as Villarreal continued their winning run in the 2022/23 UEFA Europa Conference 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.
Nicholas Jackson gives Villarreal win over Austria Wien
Villarreal visited bottom-placed Austria Wien in search of a victory that would put them one foot into the playoffs of the Europa Conference 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 Conference League this season, with the Villarreal Academy graduate bagging his second goal of the season since he scored against Real Valladolid on Matchday 1.
Chukwueze stats vs Austria Wien
Chukwueze made his fourth appearance for Villarreal in the Europa Conference League in the win over Austria Wien with the Nigeria international now having played 258 minutes of football in Europe this season.
Against Austria Wien, Chukwueze was not as effective, managing only 32 touches of the ball, one (1) shot on target and failing to get past his man with his two (2) attempted dribbles.
The Super Eagles star won one (1) of the seven (7) duels he contested, lost possession 11 times and was found offside once before he got hooked off at 68 minutes.
Villarreal will return to action on Monday, October 17 when they host 8th-placed Osasuna at the Estadio de la Ceramica in their Matchday 9 fixture of the 2022/23 Spanish La Liga