Aston Villa claimed the Queensland Champions Cup after a 1-0 victory against Brisbane Roar in Townsville on Wednesday night. Cameron Archer with the decisive goal on 77 minutes.
Following their 1-0 victory over Leeds United on Sunday, Aston Villa won the inaugural three-team pre-season tournament with a win over the A-League outfit.
Captain Emiliano Martinez lead the Villans out at the home of North Queensland Cowboys, while Bertrand TraorΓ© was offered the opportunity to impress in attack.
Despite Villa’s early possession domination, it was Brisbane Roar who broke dangerously, with Jez Lofthouse angling a shot marginally over from the edge of the area.
Villa’s first significant effort on goal came from TraorΓ©, who cut inside and curled a left-footed effort into the top corner that was narrowly over the crossbar.Β Leon Bailey and John McGinn also tried their luck from distance, but both failed to test Roar’s goalkeeper Macklin Freke.
Ings is picked out beautifully by Calum Chambers in the box, his exquisite control setting him up nicely, but his attempted chip at the far post is tipped wide by the keeper. The corner results in a goalmouth scramble, with Brisbane just managing to defuse the danger. An underwhelming half from Villa see’s the score stay at 0-0.
After the break, Steven Gerrard made ten substitutions, including giving a debut to Ludwig Augustinsson. Ezri Konsa miraculously returned to the playing field after initially fearing a lay-off until mid-September, while youngsters Kesler Hayden, Iroegbunam and Archer were given the chance to impress.
Emiliano Buendia sparked life into the second-half, whipping in a dangerous cross towards Archer who failed to make contact when the slightest touch could have proved decisive.
The adventurous Kesler-Hayden sped down the right wing, but his pass back to Archer was flashed wide; much to the relief of Brisbane goalkeeper Macklin Freke.
There would be no such relief again for Brisbane, as Kesler-Hayden was picked out on the right by Iroegbunam, the young right-back firing a first-time ball into the box which found it’s way to England Under-21 international Archer who made amends for his earlier miss to fire home the winning goal. An excellent impact from the Villa youngsters.
A couple of half-chances followed as Villa comfortably saw out the game; Konsa failing to keep his header down from a corner and Archer firing well wide after craving himself an opening.
Up next for Aston Villa is Manchester United on Saturday night in Perth.
AUTHOR | RYAN MCKEOWN
Author’s UTV PODCAST archive Ryan Mckeown
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