Aston Villa U19 2-2 AZ Alkmaar U19UEFA Youth League Third Round, First Leg
Venue: Bodymoor Heath
Date: Wednesday afternoon Aston Villa U19s and AZ Alkmaar U19s played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Youth League third-round clash, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg in Alkmaar on Tuesday, December 9. Jimmy Shan's Young Lions twice took the lead through Rory Wilson and Bradley Burrowes, but AZ responded each time with goals from Tycho de Wit and Hessel de Wit, snatching a late equalizer in the 87th minute.Shan made four changes to the side that defeated KF Skënderbeu in the previous round, bringing in Burrowes and Calum Moreland at full-back, along with Kadan Young and Ben Broggio in attack alongside Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba and Wilson.The match began cautiously, with AZ enjoying more possession and creating early chances. Bendegúz Kovács, who scored four goals in the last round against Lincoln Red Imps, fired over from distance, while Bohdan Budko tested Villa goalkeeper Owen Asemota with a stinging drive.Villa broke the deadlock in the 20th minute. Captain Aidan Borland kept an attack alive, finding Jimoh-Aloba whose shot was saved by Nick Homan, allowing Wilson to turn home the rebound—his fifth goal of the competition.AZ leveled seven minutes later when Kovács capitalized on a loose backpass, rounding Asemota and squaring for Tycho de Wit to steer into an empty net, ensuring the sides went into half-time tied.Villa started the second half strongly and regained the lead in the 56th minute. Wilson turned his defender on Young's pass and poked a shot that Homan parried, with Burrowes burying the rebound.The hosts pushed for a third, with Jimoh-Aloba and Borland testing Homan, but AZ rallied. Budko forced another save from Asemota before Hessel de Wit struck a superb first-time effort into the top corner from the edge of the box after Villa surrendered possession deep in their half.Despite Villa's late push in four minutes of added time, no winner emerged, setting up a decisive return leg in the Netherlands as the Villans aim to reach the knockout stages for the second consecutive season.Post-match, Shan expressed mixed emotions, saying: “We’re obviously disappointed with the result. I thought the performance warranted a win.” He lamented gifting two goals, taking responsibility for the second due to game management, while praising AZ's individuals and patterns. Shan highlighted Villa's tactical adaptability, outstanding possession play, and chance creation, but noted a lack of ruthlessness in the final third.Looking ahead, with a Birmingham Senior Cup opener against Coventry Sphinx in between, Shan added: “Plenty more work... it gives you an opportunity to reflect and tidy things up and look at where we can do things better – both in and out of possession. It gives us an opportunity with a game in between to continue that momentum, that rhythm.”

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