ASTON VILLA start their historic knockout campaign with a comfortable advantage going into the second leg at Villa Park.
The Villans started off well as winger Leon Bailey fired them ahead from close range inside the the first three minutes.
Though, the tricky Club Brugge would level the contest no more than ten minutes later through Maxim De Cuyper who galloped onto a rolled back pass inside the box and planted his finish into the bottom corner.
The back-and-forth contest would peak as Morgan Rogers’ cross from the right wing was turned in by Brandon Mechele on the 82nd minute.
Substitute Marco Asensio would extend the lead as the Spaniard converted his penalty kick following Christos Tzolis late foul on Matty Cash.
- Full-time result: Club Brugge 1 Villa 3
- Club Brugge: Mignolet, Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper, Onyedika, Jashari,Talbi, Vanaken, Tzolis, Jutgla.
- Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Garcia, Disasi, Konsa, Digne, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers, Asensio, Rashford, Watkins
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Full-time: Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa
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Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa
The return leg takes place next Wednesday and Club Brugge have it all to do.
Villa have one foot in the quarter-final thanks to goals from Leon Bailey and Marco Asensio, with Mechele scoring a crucial own goal.
Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa
FT. Two late goals have put Aston Villa in a commanding position ahead of the return leg at Villa Park.
It is job done for Emery whose substitutions made the difference.
Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa
90. Late chance for Club Brugge but Vetlesen skies over from De Cuyper’s cutback.
Another chance goes begging for the hosts which sums up the match.
Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa
90. Watkins is replaced by Bogarde as the fourth official signals four additional minutes.
Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa
87. Tielemans initially looked to put the ball down but he hands it to Asensio who fires low into the bottom left corner.
Goal! Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa
87. Asensio makes no mistake from the spot!
Club Brugge 1-2 Aston Villa
86. Cash wins the ball in the box and is brought down by Tzolis.
There was minimal contact and VAR checked to see if the ball went out of play before it reached Cash.
Club Brugge 1-2 Aston Villa
86. Penalty Villa!
Club Brugge 1-2 Aston Villa
82. Rogers is played in down the right and he fizzes across a low ball that looks destined to reach Watkins.
But before the striker can tap in Mechele stretches for the ball and can only divert it past his own goalkeeper. Disaster.
Goal! Club Brugge 1-2 Aston Villa
82. Own goal from Mechele!
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
78. It is a back and forth match now with the intensity ramped up since Villa’s changes.
But it is the hosts who look most like scoring.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
74. Big big miss.
Tzolis is slipped through and only had the keeper to beat but he somehow smashes over the bar from eight yards.
Huge let off for Villa.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
73. Villa look more up for this now and are seeing a lot more of the ball.
Emery may take a draw but a win could be huge.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
69. How has that not gone in!
A superb delivery is met by Brugge captain Vanaken who heads back across goal, but can only watch as the ball agonisingly bounces past the post.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
68. So close from Villa!
Watkins goes close but Mignolet produces a brilliant save to keep the ball out.
It falls to Cash who can only blaze over the bar from close range.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
67. Brugge still on top here without creating much.
Emery will be hoping the subs re-energise his team, who have looked off it today.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
63. First change and it’s a big one. Rashford, Bailey, McGinn and Disasi all go off.
Cash, Asensio, Kamara and Ramsey come on to replace them.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
59. Another Brugge move comes to nothing thanks to Mings.
He gets a foot in to deny Jashari just as he was about to shoot.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
57. Emery does not look too pleased on the touchline as his side struggle to get a foothold in the game.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
54. Onyedika unleashes a shot from distance but it is easy for Martinez to deal with.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
52. Club Brugge go up the other end and Mings has to stretch to put the ball out for a corner from a low cross.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
51. Villa break as Rogers turns on the halfway line and runs at the defence.
He feeds Watkins but the ball is pinched off his toe.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
49. A steady start to the second period with Club Brugge dominating the ball so far.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
46. The second half is underway with no changes for either side at the break.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
