Connect with us

Local Soccer Events

Atlético Mineiro vs. Rangers, 2018 Florida Cup: Final Score 1-0 as Scottish Giants Find a Second-Half Winner

Published

7 years ago

on

A second-half Josh Windass goal lifted Scottish giants Rangers F.C. to a 1-0 win over Brazilian side Clube Atlético Mineiro in the second game of the 2018 Florida Cup at Orlando City Stadium. It was the first appearance in the tournament for Rangers, who used possession-oriented play to outmatch the more direct playing style of Atletico, which consistently struggled against Rangers’ high press.

“It was a very good workout and result in very humid conditions that we’re not used to,” said Rangers Manager Graeme Murty after the match. “I saw a lot of promising things from both halves.”

While the starters remained deadlocked at the half, it proved the substitutes had what Rangers needed to secure the win tonight. Atletico appeared to see if they could take advantage of the mass substitution by the opponents to begin the second half but it looked very much the opposite. The Scots were unopposed — substitutes or not — against the starters from Brazil. Windass, Florida Cup’s Man of the Match, broke the deadlock in the 69th minute on what was ultimately a night Atletico will want to forget as the Brazilians looked out of sorts all evening.

Atletico lined up in a 4-5-1, with goalkeeper Cleiton, defenders Adson, Rodrigão, Donato and Mansur, midfielders Adilson, Lorran, Ralph, Pablo, and Thalis, and the lone forward Leleu. Cleiton and Masur the only two holdovers from the first team with the rest filled in with a collection of young talent.

Rangers countered with a 4-4-2 with Jan Alnwick in net and defenders Danny Wilson, James Tavernier, Dálcio Gomes, and Aidan Wilson. The midfield consisted of Jason Holt, Serge Atakayi, Jamie Murphy and Sean Goss. The men up top were Alfredo Morelos and underneath him played Niko Krancjar. On paper, Rangers appeared to bring the stronger side with six players listed on the first team. Murphy and Goss were both added to the team in this transfer window and were seeing their first starts as Rangers.

Atletico started hot on the front foot causing a clearance from Alnwick and another opportunity where the keeper was forced to push the winger toward the goal line, leading to an eventual corner that found the six-yard box but nothing else.

Following that immediate burst out of the gate, Rangers took control while adhering to their possession and press tactics. It caused Atletico to come into countless needless challenges and fouls as the Brazilians appeared frustrated at the lack of possession. Atletico’s eventual attacks were in haste and often the counter-attack seemed without the intent to find more than two passes.

In the 13th minute, off a great ball from Cleiton, Gomes — usually a midfielder — misplayed the ball as it went clear over his head, giving the Atletico winger the chance to send through a pass to a streaking Thalis, who then barely missed the net with a ball off the post.

Rangers countered right back a minute later, with their own combination that led to a corner off the efforts of youth academy footballer Atakayi. The corner found Morelos’ head only to go over the bar slightly.

Atletico continued to build their attack through one to three direct passes, which led to a horrible mistake by Gomes in the 18th minute, when a clumsy challenge led the ball falling into the oncoming run of Pablo, turning it into a 1-v-1. Alnwick made a fantastic stretched foot save despite Pablo having a straight-on look 16 yards from goal. The ensuing corner led to some additionally sloppy play by the Scottish side but ended harmlessly.

Rangers again took control of the match for the next few minutes as Goss found a long-distance shot that troubled no one and Tavernier made a fantastic run but the shot proved too difficult as it went straight to the Atletico keeper.

The starting Rangers defense continued with some sloppy play as Atletico’s No. 10 beat Wilson on a challenge to earn another corner, which found Rodrigão, but the ball went far over the crossbar.

The press continued to prove troublesome for Atletico, who found themselves in a tight spot in the 33rd minute, as Rangers captain Krancjar found a ball off some combination play that started off an Atletico mistake. Krancjar was 12 yards from goal, but unfortunately was off balance to do anything other than put it into the gut of Cleiton.

On one of their best chances of the half, Rangers had a 43rd-minute free kick dead center from 25 yards out. Krancjar stepped over the ball with Gomes and Goss on either side. Atletico had a small four-man wall but the captain shot it right at the goalkeeper again.

In a crazy situation in stoppage time, Alnwick, who played very well — and aggressively, I might add — seemingly handled the ball at the arc of the penalty area as he looked to not be aware of his surroundings. However, there was no whistle as most of the Rangers collective held their breath fearing a free kick in what would have been a very dangerous spot.

Rangers changed all but Alnwick at the half — not too unfamiliar in competitions like these — while Atletico appeared to try and gain some advantage with keeping their starters on to face the all-substitute Rangers second-half squad.

The Rangers substitutes got the first look, however, as aggressive combination play led to a couple of corners early. While nothing came of either, the bench was clearly not intimidated off the kick against the Atletico starters.

Off the second corner, it appeared Atletico might take the lead as a beautiful three-pass combination led to a fantastic counter but unfortunately for Atletico it led to nothing of consequence as the Rangers defense tracked very well.

On an odd sequence in the 57th minute, a poor touch by Windass as he drove to goal resulted in a deflection by the Atletico defender right into the feet of a Rangers attacker, which ultimately ended up in a sloppy challenge by Halliday on Rodrigão. This was the second hard foul of the day — only a few minutes apart — and he was subbed for Jordan after Rodrigão was visibly struggling from both hits. Halliday was shown a caution for the offense.

Atletico’s players continued to get knocked around by the more aggressive Scottish side as in the 61st minute Ralph had to come on off for Filipinho after a hard tackle.

Then the match appeared to open up a bit more and have a bit more back and forth as Atletico’s substitutes took on a more possession-based tactic and were more adept at picking their spots to drive forward. It all meant nothing, however, as they could never really find the penetrating pass to find any decent shots.

You could feel something coming on for Rangers as their youth continued to play fast, both in speed and combination, giving Atletico’s back line a lot of fits. Halliday had his best chance of the day when a pass from Windass found him 15 yards off the net, a tad off to the left, only to see the ball spin wide of the right post.

Rangers’ aggressive play finally payed off in the 69th minute, when they finally broke through. Daniel Candeias, on a great sprinting run down the left wing, found Eduardo Hererra in the center of the penalty area, who had a great one-time pass back to Windass 12 yards from net on the left side. Windass calmly bent the ball into the right corner to give the Scottish side the 1-0 lead.

Atletico searched for that elusive equalizer for the next 10 minutes as they found a couple of chances around the area. The day, however, was not going to be theirs as no one really found a true opportunity.

From the 80th to 89th minutes, you would think Rangers would have been content sitting back or moving every attack into the corner but it was quite the opposite. They kept the foot on the pedal as they tried to find the second goal that would ultimately put the Brazilians away for good. Windass was again involved as he found Michael O’Halloran on the right wing, whose cross carried right along the six, only to be just slightly behind Candeias.

Atletico’s best chance of the night was squandered in the 89th as Rangers defender David Bates made a gaffe of a pass right up the middle of the pitch to no one except Atletico attacker Xavier. Xavier drove towards goal only to push the ball too wide, giving no trouble to the charging keeper.

In stoppage — all six minutes of it — Atletico continued to press and found a couple of dangerous balls into the penalty area only to be cleared by the center backs and substitute goalkeeper Liam Kelly, who came out wonderfully on a very dangerous cross in the 91st and 93rd minutes.

“I had talked to the team before the match and told them that they need to set the foundation for the second half of the season and everyone needs to take full part in it,” Murty said. “These were small steps, good steps from the young reserves and the returners, both of whom are hungry to show what they can do. Very encouraging steps.”

Rangers return to Florida Cup action Saturday at 1 p.m. vs. Corinthians at UCF’s Spectrum Stadium. Atletico Mineiro face off against Colombian side Atletico Nacional, on Sunday at 1 p.m. — also at UCF.

The Florida Cup rolls on tomorrow at Spectrum Stadium when Dutch side PSV Eindhoven takes on Fluminense from Brazil at 7 p.m. It’ll be PSV’s final match of the tournament after Wednesday’s 1-1 draw vs. Corinthians. Fluminense will be opening their 2018 Florida Cup involvement.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Local Soccer Events

United States vs. Costa Rica: Final Score 3-0 as Yanks Win Again in Orlando

The USMNT improved to a perfect 7-0-0 at Inter&Co Stadium after a resounding win over Costa Rica.

Published

1 month ago

on

January 22, 2025

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The United States Men’s National Team is still perfect at Inter&Co Stadium after a 3-0 win over Costa Rica on a cold Wednesday night in Orlando. Brian White, Caden Clark, and Patrick Agyemang provided the offense as the USMNT improved to a perfect 7-0-0 at the home stadium of Orlando City SC, outscoring the opposition 25-2 in the venue.

“I think we are very, very happy,” USMNT Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino said after the game. “After 90 minutes, it’s like, okay, it’s not (looking like) one or two weeks working together. It looks like we’re working together for six months.”

Pochettino’s starting lineup included Zack Steffen in goal behind a back line of DeJuan Jones, Tim Ream, Walker Zimmerman, and Miles Robinson. Benjamin Cremaschi and Emeka Eneli started in the central midfield behind an attacking line of Brian Gutierrez, Diego Luna, and Indiana Vassilev, with White up top. For Robinson, it was his first USMNT start at right back.

Los Ticos opened the game as the aggressor, getting on the ball more and winning several early corner kicks. The visitors, however, could do nothing with them. The U.S. won a couple early corners of its own. The first was played short and ended in a Vassilev shot high over the bar from outside the area. On the second, Vassilev got his shot blocked in front. Gutierrez’s follow-up shot squirted off the side of his foot and into the outside netting in the 14th minute.

A few minutes later, Luna took a careless arm in the face and may have broken his nose. He spent several minutes getting attended to by the training staff, staying in the game after changing out of his bloody shirt and putting on a clean one. Just moments later, Luna took a pass from Jones near the middle of the field, carried it into the attacking half, and threaded a beautiful pass to White up top. White didn’t get all of his left-footed shot, but he placed it well, scoring his first USMNT goal to make it 1-0 in the 21st minute.

“(Luna) showed great character, because he wanted to stay. He wanted to play,” Pochettino said. “He’s a player that for sure we’re going to have consideration for the future.”

White nearly netted his second goal five minutes later off a corner. Ream flicked the ball into the middle of the box for White, who stabbed a shot right at goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado, who made a good reaction save to keep it 1-0. A minute later, Luna set up White on the right side. Alvarado made the initial save and Vassilev couldn’t get on the rebound as it was knocked out for a corner. Ream flicked well wide of the near post on the right side on the ensuing set piece.

Costa Rica had a good attacking spell toward the latter part of the first half. Steffen did well to palm away a wicked cross by Joseph Mora in the 36th minute. Moments later, he made a big save, tipping a dipping Alejandro Bran shot from distance over the crossbar. Luna cleared away the ensuing corner kick after it pinged dangerously along the ground in the box.

Luna was nearly in behind down the left in the 39th minute but Santiago van der Putten pulled him back, earning a yellow card. The U.S. did nothing with the ensuing free kick and Robinson was booked for a collision with the goalkeeper after Alvarado caught the Gutierrez service.

Gutierrez made a barnstorming run through the Costa Rica defense in the 42nd minute, working his way left to right to set up a shot, but he ultimately had it blocked by Ryan Bolanos.

The last chance of the half nearly went Costa Rica’s way, but Robinson read the entry ball well and beat Josimar Mendez to the ball on what could have been a point-blank opportunity. The sides went to the break with the U.S. up 1-0.

The U.S. held the halftime advantage in possession (59.4%-40.6%), shots (7-3), and shots on target (3-1). Costa Rica won more corners (5-4)

Pochettino made three changes at the break, sending on Jack McGlynn, Clark, and Matko Miljevic for Luna, Gutierrez, and Cremaschi.

With a lot of whistles, some yellow cards, and several substitutions, the second half didn’t flow as smoothly as the first. The United States had few sustained attacking possessions but still managed to find some goals near the end to put the game away, but not before the Ticos threatened to make a game of it.

Creichel Perez had the first shot of the second half in the 53rd minute, sending a shot over Steffen’s goal from distance. A minute later, White had a golden opportunity for a brace, faking his defender to the ground and firing wide of the left post from the right from seven yards out.

Allan Cruz nearly tied the game in the 56th minute. A shot from the right deflected to a wide-open Cruz in the box on the left. He blasted a shot, but Steffen made a sensational save to tip it wide and preserve his team’s lead.

“Today he performed really, really well,” Pochettino said of Steffen’s performance. “A few saves that were amazing, showed the quality that the keeper (has). The keeper needs to save and he showed his quality, so happy for him, because he was great.”

Cruz sent a one-hopper right at Steffen in the 66th minute to break up a spell without scoring chances either way.

The U.S. doubled its lead in the 77th minute on a great play on the left by Eneli, who beat the defense and cut back a diagonal pass through the box. Clark fired, smashing his shot into the upper left corner to make it 2-0.

The Yanks did well to kill the game from that point on, keeping possession and passing around the back to bleed the clock, but there were a few near misses on through balls that nearly put Agyemang in behind the defense. It finally worked in the 90th minute, as an inside-out ball from Jones sent the Charlotte FC striker down the left. Despite being at a tight angle, Agyemang blasted a left-footed shot in to make it 3-0 in the 90th minute for the final tally. It was Agyemang’s second goal in as many games in this January window.

Pochettino said all of the forwards in camp were impressive in this window.

“Brian White performed really well today and he scored. Patrick also impressed us. Caden Clark also,” he said. “We are so happy because very impressive month from the whole squad. It makes us feel very positive for the future. We have different options.”

Costa Rica put the ball in the box and tried to find a consolation goal in stoppage time but couldn’t connect, and the U.S. held on for the win.

The United States finished with the advantage in possession (58.4%-41.6%), shots (11-9), and shots on target (5-3), while Costa Rica won more corners (6-4).

“I think we were showing a great mentality and the quality there,” Pochettino said. “That’s why we scored three goals and we created many chances in two games. It’s about (getting the players) to believe, it’s about that they have their chances to show their quality.”

With the victory, the U.S. improved to 20-17-6 in the all-time series with Costa Rica, including a mark of 20-6-4 at home.

Next up for Pochettino’s men is a meeting with Panama in March in Concacaf Nations League play on March 20 in Los Angeles.

Continue Reading

Local Soccer Events

United States vs. Brazil: Continental Classic: Final Score 1-1 as USMNT Comes from Behind in Orlando

Christian Pulisic’s free kick goal earned the U.S. a draw against world power Brazil at Camping World Stadium.

Published

8 months ago

on

June 12, 2024

By

Michael Citro, The Mane Land

The United States Men’s National Team fell behind early but Christian Pulisic’s free kick goal helped the Yanks draw South American giants Brazil 1-1 in front of an announced crowd of 60,016 at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. Matt Turner set a new career high with the national team with 11 saves, eclipsing his previous best of eight, and although his turnover led to Brazil’s goal, Turner had a strong game stopping shots.

With the draw, the United States snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Seleção, the team’s longest losing streak against any country.

USMNT Head Coach Gregg Berhalter said he was happy with the way the team responded to Saturday’s 5-1 loss to Colombia.

“We talked to the guys before the game and we just asked two things from them. We asked for teamwork and intensity,” Berhalter said. “And the way we framed it is (these are) two things that are totally in their control. It doesn’t matter about the opponent. It doesn’t matter about the field, or the fans, or anything. Those are the two things they can control. And that’s the type of effort that we saw today. We feel like we made a little step. It’s not a huge step, but it’s a little step to be able to play against an amazingly talented Brazil team and bend but not break. I think give them problems as well, push them as well. So for us, looking at it, we think it’s a good end to our preparation camp and we’re ready for Copa America.”

Berhalter’s starting lineup included Turner in goal behind a back line of Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, and Joe Scally. The midfield in the team’s 4-3-3 consisted of Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, and Gio Reyna behind a forward line of Pulisic, Ricardo Pepi, and Tim Weah.

The U.S. started brightly, creating the first two chances of the game. Musah was unlucky not to score just five minutes in as his cannon shot from long range hit the crossbar, bounced down and somehow stayed out.

A minute later, Pulisic made a nice move to cut through traffic into space and fired a shot from outside the area, but Alisson made a diving save.

Brazil grew more into the match after that and created the next couple of chances. The first fell to Rodrygo at the top of the 18. His shot didn’t have much pace on it and was right at Turner for the comfortable save in the seventh minute. A minute later, Vinicius Jr. had a shot from the top of the box on the right but he missed the target.

A nice play by Pepi created an attacking chance for Weah in the 12th minute. The winger cut in from the right side and fired with his left but it went straight at Alisson.

Vinicius Jr. cut inside and fired two minutes later, but the shot was partially deflected, making for an easy scoop for Turner. The goalkeeper then made a save on Vinicius Jr. after Musah turned the ball over moments later. Turner then made a much more difficult save in the 17th minute on the Brazilian speedster, who roasted Richards down the right side of the U.S. defense.

Brazil broke through on the ensuing restart. Turner’s pass into the middle was picked off, igniting the Brazilian counterattack. Rodrygo got in behind on the left thanks to a great diagonal pass, and he placed his shot well, beating Turner to make it 1-0.

The teams exchanged shots in the 20th minute, with Weah cutting in and firing right at Alisson for an easy save. Lucas Paqueta then fired over the bar at the other end.

Turner got away with a big mistake in the 22nd minute. Caught between two minds, he stopped his charge off the line, allowing Brazil to get to the ball first at the top of the area. The ball went left and Turner recovered to force a corner kick. Ream cleared the set piece cross to take the heat off.

Pulisic got to the top of the area in the 24th minute and was fouled hard. Although it appeared to happen right on the line at the top of the 18-yard box, Honduran referee Said Martinez indicated a free kick just outside the box. No matter, because Pulisic smashed a low shot into the bottom left corner, beating Alisson and making it 1-1 in the 26the minute.

“It was so close, it was going to be tough to get it over the wall,” Pulisic said. “And I just saw a bit of an opening.”

The pace of the game slowed a bit after the equalizer, including a hydration break a few minutes later. Brazil sent a couple of long-range attempts well over Turner’s goal in the five-minute span between the 35th and 40th minutes and the U.S. overcooked a couple of crosses in that same time period. A ball forward in the 42nd minute for Rodrygo was well shepherded by Richards, allowing Turner to collect. Pulisic sent a weak header to Alisson a minute later.

The game ground almost to a halt over the final few minutes of the half and the three minutes of injury time, and the teams went to the break all tied up.

The stats were pretty even at halftime, although Brazil held much more of the possession (60.8%-39.2%). The visitors also had more shots (8-6) and corners (2-0), while the U.S. put more shots on target (5-4).

Brazil controlled even more of the ball to start the second half, pushing the U.S. defensive block lower and keeping all 10 outfield players in the Americans’ half for long stretches. This got Brazil’s fullbacks more involved in the attack and Wendell bombed forward and smashed a shot from a tight angle on the left into the outside netting in the 50th minute.

Brazil initially won a dangerous free kick a minute later on the game’s most bizarre play. Richards appeared to commit a foul just outside the semicircle at the top of the penalty area and was booked. Before Brazil took the set piece, the referee went to the monitor, presumably to check to see if Richards was the last defender and should therefore be sent off. Martinez instead deemed that the play was clean, giving the U.S. the ball back and rescinding the yellow card he had shown the U.S. defender.

Moments later, the Brazilians sent an attack up the left that ended in an overhead kick by Rodrygo that sailed just wide. Wendell then sent a shot over the bar in the 59th minute.

The goalkeeper traded fantastic saves in the 67th and 68th minutes. Second-half sub Endrick blazed past Ream down Brazil’s right channel and smashed a shot that Turner saved. He was able to jump on the rebound before an opponent could arrive. Seconds later on the other end, McKennie picked out Pulisic’s trailing run. The captain was wide open but Alisson made an outstanding save to keep the game level.

Rodrygo created a good shot from a bad angle on the left in the 74th minute with a quickly released and cheeky shot with his right. Turner got a hand up at the last second to make a huge save.

The U.S. could have taken the lead in the 83rd minute off a throw-in. Pulisic did well to get the ball at the end line and centered for substitute Brenden Aaronson. However, the winger’s point-blank shot was too close to Alisson, who made a big reaction save. Three minutes later, Pulisic tried a shot from the left but sent his attempt inches wide of the right post.

In the final minutes, Brazil sent a couple of hopeful attempts at Turner and couldn’t do much with a series of corner kicks. Pulisic had one opportunity for the U.S. with a steal in the attacking half, but he was pulled back by a defender. The ref let the U.S. play on but Pulisic only made it about another step and a half before having the ball knocked away and Martinez did not pull the play back for a free kick on the foul. Instead, he gave Brazil a free kick at the other end on the ensuing attack. Turner punched the delivery away.

Ultimately, the U.S. survived the late pressure and earned a hard-fought draw with a tough Brazilian side.

Brazil ended up dominating the stat sheet, finishing with the advantage in possession (60.9%-39.1%), shots (25-12), shots on target (12-7), and corners (9-0). The crowd was a record for a USMNT match in the state of Florida.

“I think it was just a willingness to defend, get numbers behind the ball in transition, getting numbers back, just just a lot smarter, not losing balls in the wrong areas and just giving them easy opportunities. And yeah, just a team spirit,” Pulisic said about his team’s performance vs. Saturday’s game. “A willingness to also suffer at times and then find our chances. So, definitely a big step in the right direction.”

“If we could play with those two teams, we could play with pretty much any team in the (Copa America) tournament,” Richards said. “Of course, every team is going to bring new challenges, but I think tonight especially gives us a lot of confidence.”

The next time the USMNT takes the pitch will be June 23 in Arlington, TX, against Bolivia in the 2024 Copa America.

Continue Reading

Local Soccer Events

Fulham vs. Aston Villa, International Friendly: Final Score 2-0 as Aston Villa Wins Friendly at Exploria Stadium

Aston Villa scored a goal in each half to defeat a wasteful Fulham side in friendly action at Exploria Stadium.

Published

2 years ago

on

July 26, 2023

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Aston Villa scored a goal in each half to dispatch Fulham 2-0 in a friendly match, as the Summer Series came to Orlando’s Exploria Stadium. Jaden Philogene put Aston Villa ahead in the first half and Moussa Diaby doubled the lead in the second half to lead the Villans past a Fulham side that wasted several good opportunities to get on the scoreboard.

“A strange match tonight,” Aston Villa Manager Unai Emery said. “We started late, and we didn’t get the rhythm like we wanted. We didn’t build up like we were doing on Sunday against Newcastle. We didn’t connect or progress with good passes trying to get in the boxes, but we competed, we won, and we played the game with different players, trying to get our fitness. I am happy but overall it was strange, tonight’s match.”

Marco Silva’s starting lineup for Fulham looked like this:

Emery countered with this lineup for Aston Villa:

A delay for inclement weather pushed kickoff back an hour and 20 minutes. Once the match began, the two English sides played a physical and sometimes downright feisty game for a friendly.

The opening 25 minutes was mostly bereft of clear-cut chances. The best opportunity for either side up to that point was a header just wide off a corner kick by Aston Villa’s Kansa in the eighth minute.

As the first half wore on, Aston Villa started creating more opportunities. Cameron Archer was sent into the box with a good through ball and he was taken down. It was an obvious penalty. Archer took the spot kick himself, but Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno got a hand to it, diving to his right and deflecting it off the woodwork.

Villa worked the ball back into the box to Archer again but this time he sent his shot wide to the left.

Kansa was booked for Aston Villa in the 36th minute for a rough foul as the physical play continued. Shortly after that, however, his side took the lead.

A ball in from the left side from Lucas Digne found Philogene in front and he swept it home to make it 1-0 in the 40th minute.

Just before the break, Fulham put the ball in the net through Carlos Vinicius, but the flag had gone up for offside in the buildup. Villa carried its 1-0 lead into halftime.

Fulham opened the second half looking to get level and creating chances. Substitute Willian won an early free kick but Fulham could do nothing with it. Vinicius was left unmarked moments later but headed over the bar. Sasa Lukic tried an ambitious shot from distance in the 54th minute, but it was always going wide to the right. A minute later, Vinicius had another header attempt but hit this one just outside the upper left corner of the goal frame.

Aston Villa then calmed things down with a good spell of possession, although the Lions couldn’t create any chances from it. Both managers substituted liberally at the hour mark to bring on fresh legs.

Fulham’s best look came in the 71st minute. Willian sent a good diagonal ball that went through traffic and found Harry Wilson in the box. However, the Welsh winger scuffed his shot badly wide to the left.

Two minutes later, Villa scored an insurance goal. A well-weighted ball over the top found a streaking Diaby, who got in behind the Fulham defense and beat goalkeeper Mark Rodak to make it 2-0.

Luke Harris got some late chances for Fulham but he sent his first one straight at substitute goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and the second one Martinez saved, knocking it just wide for a corner in the 80th and 81st minutes.

Jay Stansfield went for goal from outside the area but sent his shot wide on one of Fulham’s last decent looks in the 87th minute.

Villa nearly made it 3-0 in the 89th minute when Ollie Watkins was sent in behind but his touch was just a tad heavy and that allowed Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak to come off his line and intercede.

That was the last good chance and Aston Villa closed out a victory in what was a fairly even match in which Fulham simply couldn’t find the net.

“It was really good,” Silva said of the Exploria Stadium atmosphere. “One of the very good things on this tour and this Summer Series is that we are playing preseason matches, but at the same time, we are playing these types of matches with a good environment, with a good atmosphere in the stadiums. It’s much easier for the players to be motivated when they play with this type of environment in the stadium. One of the good things this Summer Series gives us as a coach, is we don’t need to push them because the environment will give them the boost in terms of the motivation that they need.”

Starting Lineups:

Fulham — Bernd Leno, Kenny Tete, Harrison Reed, Harry Wilson, Tom Cairney (C), Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Kevin Mbabu, Sasa Lukic, Carlos Vinicius, Issa Diop, Luc De Fougerolles.

Aston Villa — Robin Olsen, Konsa, John McGinn (C), Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendia, Lucas Digne, Torres, Jaden Philogene, Cameron Archer, Boubacar Kamara.

Scoring:

Aston Villa — Jaden Philogene (40′)

Aston Villa — Moussa Diaby (73′)

Attendance:

16,134

Continue Reading

Trending