Villa Stage Remarkable Elland Road Comeback
Aston Villa produced a stunning second-half turnaround to defeat Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road, with Morgan Rogers scoring both goals in a performance that lifted Unai Emery's side into the Premier League's top four. The victory marks a remarkable transformation for Villa, who have now won nine of their last eleven matches across all competitions after failing to win any of their first six games this season.
Leeds' Early Promise Fades
The home side started brightly, taking the lead after just eight minutes through a controversial goal. Sean Longstaff's free-kick caused chaos in the Villa penalty area, with the ball eventually deflecting off Anton Stach and then Leeds striker Lukas Nmecha before crossing the line. Villa goalkeeper Emi Martínez appeared distracted during the incident, though he later redeemed himself with several crucial saves, including a sharp stop from Brendan Aaronson and a fine late denial of Pascal Struijk.
For much of the first half, Leeds dominated through their aggressive approach, making Villa struggle to match their intensity. However, the home side's inability to convert their pressure into more goals proved costly as they visibly tired towards the interval.
Rogers' Magic Turns the Tide
Villa manager Unai Emery made two decisive changes at half-time, introducing Donyell Malen and Ian Maatsen. The impact was immediate, with Malen creating Villa's equaliser just two minutes after the restart. The Dutch international found space on the right before delivering a low cross that Rogers met with a deft flick past goalkeeper Lucas Perri.
The winner arrived with 15 minutes remaining, courtesy of a moment of pure quality from Rogers. The young attacker stepped up to take a free-kick from the edge of the box and produced a stunning dipping shot that cleared the wall and left Perri stranded as it dropped into the net. Rogers immediately celebrated with Villa's set-piece coach Austin MacPhee, acknowledging the work done on the training ground.
Leeds thought they had equalised almost immediately through Dan James, but replays showed Dominic Calvert-Lewin had used his hand to divert the ball, ruling out the effort. The home side applied late pressure but couldn't find a way through Villa's resolute defence, extending their miserable run to five defeats in their last six matches.
Relegation Worries Deepen for Leeds
The result leaves Leeds firmly in the relegation zone, with their situation looking increasingly precarious. Manager Ivan Juric faces a daunting task to turn around their fortunes, with matches against Manchester City and Chelsea looming. The physical intensity that served them well early in the season appears difficult to maintain over ninety minutes, while their struggle to create chances from open play continues to hamper their progress.
For Aston Villa, this victory represents another significant step in their impressive campaign. Becoming only the second away team to win at Elland Road in 26 league matches demonstrates their growing credentials as genuine top-four contenders, with their squad depth beginning to tell as the season progresses.
