BRISBANE, Australia —
Danny Ings scored a penalty, but Philippe Coutinho missed another, as
Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa edged Leeds United 1–0 in a high-intensity clash
of English Premier League teams marred by 16-year-old Archie Gray being
stretchered off on Sunday.
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England
international Ings converted in the second half after his teammate Coutinho was
denied by a fantastic double save from Leeds’ young French keeper Iilan Meslier.
There was plenty
of niggle and tough tackling during the pre-season tour match in front of
nearly 41,000 fans at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, which boiled over when
Scottish midfielder John McGinn flattened Gray.
The nephew of
Leeds legend Eddie Gray and son of former
Elland Road striker Andy Gray had
only been on a few minutes when he went down clutching his ankle, with a leg
brace fitted before he was carried away on a stretcher.
“Really good
workout, a win, and a clean sheet and a lot of positivity to take away,” said
former
Liverpool and England midfielder Gerrard.
“I was really
happy with large parts of the first half, parts of the second half were a bit
scrappy.
“There was a few
spicy challenges, it’s a contact game,” he added when asked about Gray.
“Hopefully the damage isn’t too bad and he’s back.”
Villa finished
14th in the Premier League last season, only 10 points clear of the drop zone,
and Gerrard has made it clear he believes they belong in the top 10.
‘Spirited and physical’
The former Rangers boss has made some marquee signings, making Coutinho’s
loan deal from
Barcelona permanent and bringing in Boubacar Kamara from
Marseille and Diego Carlos from Sevilla.
Both Kamara and
Carlos made their debuts Sunday in the second successive win for Villa, after
they beat Walsall 4–0 to start their pre-season program last weekend.
Leeds kicked off
their preparations for the new campaign on Thursday with a 2–1 win against
Brisbane Roar.
They only just
survived in the English top flight last season and, like Gerrard, manager Jesse
Marsch expects better.
While Brazil
winger Raphinha is on his way to Barcelona, Marsch has also brought in new
players, notably Colombia winger Luis Sinisterra and American midfielder Tyler
Adams.
“It was spirited
and physical and I think both teams got something out of it,” said Marsch.
“We just heard
that we hope he’s OK, it seems like an ankle sprain,” he added of Gray.
Leeds made the
better start and Dan James had the best early chance with his half-volley
forcing a fine reaction save from Swedish goalkeeper Robin Olsen.
Minutes later,
Adams gave away a penalty after a needless handball.
Coutinho stepped
up, but Meslier went the right way and pulled off a superb save then quickly
reacted to block the rebound.
Villa kept pressing
and Coutinho played Ollie Watkins through on goal, but once more Meslier
produced an outstanding stop.
They went to the
break goalless and Villa made wholesale changes.
Ings came on and
thought he’d put Villa ahead on 49 minutes only to be ruled offside.
He finally made
the breakthrough on 63 minutes when Villa again earned a penalty from a
handball and this time Meslier could do nothing.
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