U21 Report: Aston Villa 1-2 Leeds United | OneFootball

Whites make it three unbeaten.

Premier League 2 Division 2

Aston Villa Under-21s 1 (Feeney 20)

Leeds United Under-21s 2 (Perkins 17, 67)

Villa: Marschall, Revan, Chrisene, Feeney (Hart 84), Swinkels (A. O’Reilly 57), Iroegbunam, Rowe (T. O’Reilly 68), Lindley, Young, Raikhy, Wright.  Subs not used: Zych, Frith.

Leeds: Christy, Carole, Moore, Mullen (Debayo 57) Sutcliffe (McGurk 67), Jenkins (McCalmont 77), Gyabi, Allen (Miller 90+6), Gray, Perkins, Joseph.  Subs: Brooke.

Booked: Lindley (Villa), Jenkins, McGurk (Leeds)

Referee: G. Parsons

Venue: Bodymoor Heath

A goal in either half from Sonny Perkins secured Leeds United a 2-1 away victory against Aston Villa at Bodymoor Heath.

The Whites made a bright start to the match, Mateo Joseph capitalised on a defensive error and charged up the pitch, but some good defence prevented him from getting a strike away once in the Villa box.

Darko Gyabi fired over with a free kick, before the home side had a fine chance to take the lead.  Tim Iroegbunam drove forwards before teeing up Teddy Rowe, but he blazed the opportunity over.

Leeds stopper and captain Harry Christy was then forced into action, denying Tyreik Wright, following some nice build up play from Seb Ravan and Arjan Raikhy.

It was the Whites who broke the deadlock in the 17th minute though, when Keenan Carole found Perkins on the edge of the Aston Villa box and he took a touch forward, before providing a superb strike into the corner of the net.

However, the Leeds lead lasted less than three minutes, as the home side won a corner and Josh Feeney was on hand to pounce and fire home.

With the hosts upbeat following the equaliser, Iroegbunam won possession in a good position and he tried his luck from the edge of the box, but could only fire over.

The Whites nearly regained the lead when Perkins saw a nice run by Charlie Allen, but he saw his strike saved from a narrow angle, by Filip Marschall in the Villa goal.

Leeds had a great opportunity to go in ahead at the break when Gyabi was brought down in the Aston Villa box following a good run, however, top-scorer Joseph was denied from the spot by Marschall.

Half time: Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds United

There was a lengthy stoppage seven minutes into the second half when Jeremiah Mullen and Sil Swinkels clashed heads at a corner.  Following lengthy treatment, both players were able to walk from the field of play, with James Debayo and Aaron O’Reilly replacing them.

Leeds regained the lead in the 67th minute, with Perkins netting his second goal of the match with a fine individual effort, making room for a shot from the edge of the box and brilliantly finding the bottom corner, giving Marschall no chance.

Another injury stopped play causing a further delay, before Joseph had a fine chance to make it three, he showed neat skill in the box, but once more couldn’t get the better of the Villa stopper.

Perkins nearly netted his hat-trick with nine minutes of regular time remaining.  The ball fell to him 25 yards out following a corner and his effort went a whisker wide of the post.

Joseph was then played through on goal for the Whites and had the chance to kill the game, but he couldn’t keep his shot down.

Leeds continued to push for a third goal and only a fine stop from Marschall prevented Gyabi’s deflected strike from the edge of the box.

Against the run of play, Villa almost went level, Seb Revan got forwards and struck just inches wide from range.

Due to the injuries earlier in the game, 12 minutes of stoppage time were signalled and the Whites saw out the victory, to make it three games unbeaten at the start of the campaign.

Full time: Aston Villa 1-2 Leeds United