Goals from Vladimir Leitner, who was sent off in the second half for two bookable offences, and Peter Styvar put MSK in control before Nathan Delfouneso pulled one back on his full debut for Martin O'Neill's side.

Villa could not find an equaliser but still join Hamburg and Ajax in the knockout stages.

They are now in a three-way battle to claim one of the top two spots which will ensure they have home advantage in the second game when the tournament reverts to a two-legged knockout competition in February.

After 15 minutes Villa were stunned when a freak goal put MSK in front. Leitner whipped in a cross from the left flank after cutting back inside and Zat Knight appeared to duck under the ball before it skidded off the surface and past the dive of Brad Guzan.

Four minutes later the Villa defence was pulled apart again as Styvar doubled MSK's lead. Da Silva Adauto made the initial surge forward and played in Peter Pekarik, who got in behind Luke Young before squaring for Styvar to side-foot past Guzan.

It was academy product Delfouneso who brought Villa back into the game with a stunning first senior goal. Nigel Reo-Coker floated the ball up to Marlon Harewood on the edge of the box and he chested it down for Delfouneso to crash a low left-footed volley into the bottom corner.

Ashley Young went for glory in the second half with an ambitious attempt from 30 yards out which flew into the Holte End. The former Watford player was closer with a low drive from nearer the target which flashed only a couple of yards wide.

MSK still knocked the ball around in confident fashion and Styvar would have been disappointed to screw his shot across the face of goal after space opened up for him outside the area.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men after 79 minutes when Leitner fouled Gabriel Agbonlahor and was sent off for a second bookable offence, but they managed to hold on for victory.