Report: Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds United | OneFootball

Premier League

Aston Villa 1 (Abraham 88’)

Leeds United 1 (Stach 31’)

Villa: Martínez (GK), Cash (García 87’), Konsa (C), Mings, Buendía (Abraham 75’), Watkins, Luiz (Bogardge 87’), Maatsen, Onana (Barkley 61’), Rogers, Bailey (Sancho 61’). Subs not used: Wright (GK), Lindelöf, Digne, Torres.

Leeds: Darlow (GK), Bogle, Gudmundsson (Bijol 46’), Ampadu (C), Struijk, Rodon, Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson (Nmecha 73’), Stach (Longstaff 83’), Justin, Gruev. Subs not used: Perri (GK), James, Piroe, Tanaka, Bornauw, Gnonto.

Venue: Villa Park

Attendance: 43,048

Referee: Michael Oliver

Booked: Buendía (Villa) Bijol, Darlow, Bogle, Gruev (Leeds)

Leeds United were forced to settle for a Premier League point away from home against Aston Villa, despite Anton Stach’s goal of the season contender in the first half.

Having taken the lead through the German’s thunderous free kick from 35 yards out, the shares were spoiled as Tammy Abraham equalised late on at Villa Park.

Returning to Birmingham after last weekend’s Emirates FA Cup victory at St. Andrew’s, boss Daniel Farke had made several changes to the starting lineup, including a return from injury for defender Pascal Struijk.

The visitors had an early chance when a clever Stach flick on found the run of Dominic Calvert-Lewin though, from a narrow angle, the striker saw a low effort blocked by a claret and blue shirt.

The England international then went even closer, latching onto Jayden Bogle’s deft chipped pass but Emiliano Martínez was equal to the striker’s attempt from close range.

Stach was next to try his luck, seeing a rasping drive from the edge of the area headed away by Villa defender Ezri Konsa with United settling in well to the encounter in the West Midlands.

Moments later, the German set his sights once more… From all of 35 yards, if not further, the midfielder unleashed a simply sublime free kick that arrowed beyond the despairing dive of Martínez and into the top corner!

Searching for a quickfire second, after an incisive break Calvert-Lewin laid the ball off to Ilia Gruev who curled narrowly over the upright.

Farke’s side had to be wary to prevent a leveller approaching the break as Joe Rodon read play impressively, diving to block Ollie Watkins’ first-time half-volley.

In the final action of the opening period before Michael Oliver brought proceedings to a close, stopper Karl Darlow produced a magnificent double save to deny Amadou Onana from point blank range and then reacted brilliantly to claw the ball away from danger.

HALF TIME: Aston Villa 0-1 Leeds United

The Whites emerged from the interval with one change to the personnel. Jaka Bijol replaced the hard-working Gabriel Gudmundsson in defence.

In front of a packed out away end, a long throw by skipper Ethan Ampadu was headed to the edge of the area and met by a powerful volley from the onrushing Bogle which cannoned into Struijk and allowed the hosts to clear their lines.

Just after the hour mark, Watkins controlled a ball over the top but, on the turn, skewed a wayward strike wide of the far post.

A Villa cross from the right was then met by Tyone Mings however United managed to avert the danger thanks to a crucial intervention from Bijol.

With the hosts threatening an equaliser, Villa Park thought the home side had found just that as Watkins bundled in from close range.

Emiliano Buendía’s initial strike had been excellently tipped onto the foot of the woodwork by the diving Darlow and fell to the forward to tap home, only for the assistant’s flag to be raised for an offside against the England international.

A second change from the dugout then introduced Lukas Nmecha into the action and the German international almost doubled the advantage with his first touch.

Diving to meet a Bogle delivery from the right, the striker forced a necessary save from the sprawling Martínez. Moments later, the keeper was equal to a Calvert-Lewin low strike from a narrow angle.

Tammy Abraham levelled proceedings in the 88th-minute, flicking home from a corner after Konsa had won the initial header and glanced back across goal.

United defended resolutely as the Birmingham outfit threw everything forward in search of a winner, before Oliver’s full-time whistle sounded.

The Whites are back in action next weekend in the Premier League as they welcome title-chasing Manchester City to Elland Road.

FULL TIME: Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds United