Aston Villa 0-1 Club América

Aston Villa completed their pre-season tour of the USA with a 1-0 defeat to Club América in Chicago.

The Villans came closest to opening the scoring in the first half as Leon Bailey’s curling low effort rebounded off a post, with John McGinn sending the rebound against the opposite post at Soldier Field.

Unai Emery utilised a total of 22 players for the third successive tour match, and it was the Mexican giants and Liga MX Champions who applied the pressure in the latter stages.

Substitute goalkeeper Oliwier Zych made a fingertip save to deny Illian Hernandez, before Diego Valdes saw his strike ruled out for handball in the build-up.

But Hernandez proved the difference in the 77^th minute as he raced clear and found the bottom corner.

The encounter in the Illinios heat brought the curtain down on the club’s trip Stateside, and the Villans will now head home before facing Athletic Club Bilbao in their next pre-season fixture on Wednesday.

Summer signing Ian Maatsen made his first start of the US tour, along with Lamare Bogarde and Youri Tielemans.

The stadium observed a moment’s silence ahead of kick-off in honour of former Assistant Head Coach Craig Shakespeare following his passing.

Villa supporters inside Soldier Field were outnumbered by the dominant Club América fanbase, who created a vibrant atmosphere throughout with drums, singing, flags and pyrotechnics.

Yet it was Villa who almost silenced the support in the early stages as Bailey curled a low 20-yard effort against the base of the far post, before McGinn sent the rebound against the opposite post.

The Villa captain went close again from distance shortly afterwards, while Morgan Rogers made a crucial interception at the other end.

Erick Sanchez’s deflected effort found the roof of the net, before Bogarde made a crucial last-ditch challenge to thwart Henry Martin as it remained goalless at the break.

Boss Emery made nine changes at the interval, with Joe Gauci and Cameron Archer the only players remaining from the first half.

Villa were asking a lot of the questions in the attacking third but it remained goalless on the hour mark, with Zych and Lewis Dobbin introduced.

And the young goalkeeper was immediately called into action to make a superb save, getting down low to tip around a post from Hernandez.

Club América substitute Rodrigo Aguirre should have opening the scoring but, unmarked, sent his six-yard header off target.

The Mexican side thought they had opened the scoring just a minute later as Valdes found the bottom corner, only to see his effort ruled out for an offence in the build-up.

However, they were not to be denied as Hernandez was sent clear almost immediately afterwards, beating the offside trap before coolly slotting past Zych.

Dobbin went close to a late leveller but Villa were to left to taste defeat in their latest workout ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Aston Villa: Gauci (Zych 63), Cash (Nedeljković 46), Bogarde (Dendoncker 46), Torres (Digne 46), Maatsen (Moreno 46), Onana (Barrenechea 46), Tielemans (Barkley 46), Bailey (Philogene 56), McGinn (Ramsey 46), Rogers (Buendía 46), Archer (Dobbin 63).

Subs: Wright, Kesler Hayden, Feeney, Iling Jr.