Premier League 2025-26: Roger’s double catapults Aston Villa into the top four

Striker Morgan Rogers scored a double as Aston Villa fought back from a half-time deficit to beat Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road on Sunday and move into the Premier League’s top four.

Rogers equalized three minutes into the second half and then fired in an expertly executed free-kick in the 75th minute to secure the come-from-behind victory that catapulted Villa up five places and to 21 points.

LEEDS UNITED vs ASTON VILLA HIGHLIGHTS

Defeat means Leeds remain in the bottom three, having lost five of their last six league games.

Lukas Nmecha had the home side taking an eight-minute lead as Leeds dominated the substitutions in the first half, but they were blown away by a much better Villa side after the break.

It took three and a half minutes for VAR video assistance to confirm Leeds’ goal, as Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez failed to collect a high ball under pressure and Nmecha bundled the loose ball over the line. It came at the end of a free-kick whipped to the back post by Sean Longstaff, where a sliding Gabriel Gudmundsson hooked the ball high into the air, and Martinez was unable to catch it under pressure from Anton Stach, spilling it instead and giving Nmecha the decisive touch.

The VAR checked for two possible offside situations and a foul on Martinez before confirming the goal. A double substitution at the break from Villa manager Unai Emery made the difference as substitute Donyell Malen provided the powerful square cross that Rogers got a toe to and sent into the net for the away side’s equaliser.

The winner was a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area, after Pascal Struijk brought down Villa substitute Ross Barkley and mistimed his tackle.

Rogers’ free-kick was worth winning any game, hitting over the defensive wall and curling away from Leeds’ goalkeeper Lucas Perri.

Leeds had the ball in the Villa net almost straight from the restart, but Dan James’ square ball struck Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hand before heading into the goal and was cleared after a VAR check.

Malen could have sealed the result for Villa some six minutes from time when he cut inside, but blasted over the top to give Leeds hope as the fans egged them on in search of parity. Martinez had to make a sharp save to deny Struijk’s header on the eve of full-time, but Villa held on for a sixth win in their last seven league games after a slow start to the season.

Published on November 23, 2025