U21s: Leeds United 1-1 Aston Villa

Substitute Charlie Lutz secured a fully-deserved 1-1 draw for dominant Aston Villa at Leeds United in Premier League 2 on Friday night.

Lutz fired home a 79^th-minute leveller through a sea of bodies, moments after being introduced, to cancel out Luca Thomas’ first-half penalty.

It was the least the Young Lions deserved having enjoyed a host of chances at the LNER Community Stadium, only to be denied time and again by the hosts.

Todd Alcock saw his first-half strike cleared off the goal-line and an inswinging corner rebound off the woodwork after the break.

Rory Wilson went close on several occasions, as did Kobei Moore, Ben Broggio, Kadan Young and Aidan Borland.

But Lutz’s late equaliser secured a warranted share of the spoils as the Villans, who saw off Derby County in their PL2 opener, made it four points from their opening two fixtures.

Villa were the dominant force in the opening 30 minutes and showed their attacking intent from the off.

Moore sent an early header over the crossbar before Wilson’s long-range strike flew narrowly off target.

The visitors were in control and a flowing team move after eight minutes resulted in Young seeing his strike deflected into the side-netting by goalkeeper Rory Mahady.

Wilson was next to be twice denied by impressive work from the Leeds stopper within the space of a minute, before Moore’s strike was well blocked and Kerr Smith headed over from the subsequent corner.

Villa were asking all the questions in the final third and captain Alcock saw his goalbound effort cleared off the line by Reuben Lopata-White.

Broggio was the latest to go close for the Villans but it was Leeds who took the lead against the run of play in the 39^th minute.

Cian Coleman was upended by Smith in the area and Thomas stepped up to send Sam Lewis the wrong way from the spot.

Villa continued to push forward in search of a leveller, Borland seeing his 20-yard volley from Alcock’s corner tipped over the bar, as the hosts led at the break.

The visitors picked up where they left off at the start of the second half and Alcock’s corner rebounded off the woodwork.

Villa recycled the ball and Moore was thwarted by a fine save from Mahady before Broggio’s effort moments later was deflected over.

Boss Josep Gombau introduced Rico Richards and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba in the 65^th minute, before turning to Lutz as Villa searched for a leveller.

And the latter made the desired impact just four minutes after stepping off the bench, drilling home following a goalmouth scramble to ensure it finished honours even, with Richards going close to a winner in injury time.