UEFA Youth League: Club Brugge 2-6 Aston Villa

Aston Vila boosted their hopes of progression in the UEFA Youth League with an action-packed 6-2 victory over 10-man Club Brugge on Wednesday afternoon.

A breathless first half at The Nest produced five goals and a red card, while the end-to-end encounter saw three further strikes after the break, with the woodwork also hit twice, as the Young Lions emerged victorious to claim three crucial points in Belgium.

Jessi Da Silva fired the hosts in front after just six minutes, setting the tone for a thrilling clash, which was levelled by Bradley Burrowes’ close-range finish.

Alejandro Granados’ penalty put Club Brugge back in front just after the half hour, only for Ben Broggio to equalise with a spot-kick of his own, after his initial strike was blocked on the goal-line by the arm of Axl Wins, who was duly dismissed.

Alexander Vandeperre’s own goal handed Villa a 3-2 advantage at the break, with Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba adding a fourth in the 72^nd minute to give the visitors breathing space.

Mason Cotcher was introduced off the bench immediately afterwards and duly bagged a brace within the space of just seven minutes to cap an impressive afternoon for Villa.

The dramatic matchday four triumph leaves Josep Gombau’s 15^th-placed side on six points in the European youth competition, hoping to secure a spot in the top 24 and a place in the knockout stages.

Both sides were locked on three points heading into the encounter, with Villa’s sole triumph coming against Bologna last time out while Club Brugge had drawn each of their first three league phase fixtures.

A free-flowing start to proceedings saw openings at either end before the hosts made an early breakthrough, Da Silva capitalising on a misjudged clearance from goalkeeper Sam Proctor to drill into an empty net from the edge of the penalty area.

Travis Patterson made an important block to deny Granados before Kaye Furo was sent clean through, rounded Proctor but fired over as the hosts threatened a quickfire second.

Proctor then made a fine save to deny Furo midway through the first half before opposite number Argus Vanden Driessche thwarted Kadan Young as the clash continued to be an open encounter.

And it was Villa who levelled in the 25^th minute as Broggio’s low cross from the left was converted by a sliding Burrowes from close range at the back post.  

Yet parity only lasted six minutes as Proctor brought down Furo in the area as he attempted to round the ‘keeper, leaving Granados to slot home the resulting spot-kick.

However, momentum switched again before the break as Club Brugge defender Wins saw red for blocking Broggio’s goalbound strike with his arm on the line, leaving the Villa winger to level matters from 12 yards.

And Villa duly established a 3-2 lead on the stroke of half-time as defender Vandeperre could only put Patterson’s low left-wing cross into his own net when attempting to clear.

Yet there was further drama to come in injury time as Da Silva raced through, seemingly beat Proctor only to see his effort rebound off a post and cleared to safety by Leon Routh on the line – bringing an end to an entertaining first half.

Jimoh-Aloba was denied by a great save from Vanden Driessche early in the second period, which continued in much the same fashion as the first.

Substitute Grady Makiobo Makiobo saw his effort rebound off a post for the hosts having burst clean through shortly after the hour mark.

Broggio was then denied by Vanden Driessche before Jimoh-Aloba converted from Broggio’s left-wing free-kick to hand the visitors a two-goal advantage.

Manager Gombau turned to Cotcher in the 73^rd minute and he had already found the net just 60 seconds later with a smart finish.

And the sub doubled his tally for the afternoon shortly afterwards, adding Villa’s sixth, with a close-range finish – capping a remarkable clash and putting the seal on three big points for the Young Lions.

Aston Villa: Proctor, Rowe, Katsukunya, Routh, Patterson (Fortes 81), Pavey (Simpson 62), Hemmings, Young (Cotcher 73), Jimoh-Aloba, Broggio (Jenner 81), Burrowes (Mulley 81).

Unused subs: Hammond, Asemota, Burgess, Lynch.