U23 REPORT: Aston Villa 2 Burnley 3

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Clarets seal impressive three points on the road in dramatic finale

2021-03-12T14:25:00.000Z

U23 REPORT: Aston Villa 2 Burnley 3

Clarets seal impressive three points on the road in dramatic finale

2021-03-12T14:25:00.000Z

Clarets seal impressive three points on the road in dramatic finale

Steve Stone's U23s snatched a dramatic last-gasp win over Aston Villa, with a strong performance at Villa's Bodymoor Heath Training Ground.

The Clarets' winner in a five-goal thriller came in the 95th minute from a Max Thompson penalty - just after Villa thought they had rescured a point with a stoppage time leveller.

Joel Mumbongo had earlier given the Clarets the lead in the fourth minute, before Louie Barry's deflected strike pulled the scores level.

Anthony Glennon's corner was then deflected in by Rob Harker to restore the lead.

Villa then restored parity again in the first minute of five added through Aaron Ramsey, but Thompson's spot kick sealed a third win in four games to hoist Stone's in-form troops into fourth place in the play-off places.

With the recent suspensions of defenders Richard Natey and Jake Rooney, it opened the door for second-year scholar Finlay Armstrong to slot into the back line, alongside Glennon.

Harker made his first start since November, partnering Joel Mumbongo up-front, with Thompson and Lewis Richardson operating out wide.

U23 REPORT: Aston Villa 2 Burnley 3 - Image 1

The visitors got off to a dream start, as Glennon's curling corner fell nicely at the back-post to Mumbongo, who headed home past Akos Onodi.

Villa looked to reply just 10 minutes later, as Barry broke forward towards goal before attempting a dinked effort from outside the box, which sailed just over the crossbar.

But just moments later the hosts had their equaliser, as Barry once again sparked an attack, before unleashing a strike which took a deflection off Glennon and into the bottom corner past Marc Richter.

The hosts had the ball in the net once again shortly after, but this time Barry's close range effort was flagged for offside, after pouncing on Richter's parried save.

Defender involved in three goals in five-goal thriller

With the strong blustery conditions playing a part, the two teams headed into the break level.

But it was Stone's side who came out on the front foot in the second-half, coming close to a second goal as an Anthony Gomez strike fizzed just wide of the post before the hour mark.

And the Clarets deservedly regained the lead minutes later, as Glennon's corner looped into the box and off the back of Harker past Onodi.

Villa looked for another equaliser as the clock ticked down, but a couple of impressive saves from Richter with 10 minutes remaining kept the visitors in front.

U23 REACTION: Glennon Reflects On Villa Victory - Image 1

And despite more late pressure from the home side, the Clarets came close to a third, as Glennon's cross found half-time substitute Arman Taranis at the back-post, but his effort was denied by Onodi.

Villa celebrated a second equaliser in the first minute of stoppage time, as Ramsey fired home from close range.

However, the cheers had barely doed down as Richardson was fouled inside the area and the Clarets were awarded a spot-kick.

And Thompson stepped up and gleefully fired home past Onodi to snatch the unlikeliest of victories.

BURNLEY: Richter, Cropper, Armstrong, Glennon, Rain, Thompson, Tucker, Gomez, Richardson, Mumbongo (Taranis HT), Harker (Unwin 74).

Subs: Allen, Costelloe, Gallagher-Allison.