Leeds United 1-2 Aston Villa Player Ratings: Morgan Rogers Rated 9/10 as Aston Villa Secures a Comeback Win

This was a classic game of two halves. Leeds United burst out of the gates, grabbing an early lead through Lukas Nmecha and looking completely in control. It felt like they might just run away with it in front of their home crowd in this crucial Premier League fixture.

However, whatever Unai Emery said at halftime worked wonders. Aston Villa emerged in a completely different side, wrestling back control and putting Leeds under immense pressure. The star of the show, without a doubt, was Morgan Rogers, who was simply unplayable. He bagged an equalizer just after the break and then sealed the incredible comeback with a stunning free-kick.

Leeds just had no answer. Despite their spirited start, they were outmaneuvered and outplayed in the second period, ultimately slumping to a disappointing 2-1 defeat. This match will be remembered for Villa's resilience and a spectacular individual performance. Here are the Sportsdunia Leeds United vs Aston Villa Player Ratings.

Aston Villa Player Ratings vs Leeds United

Check out the Aston Villa player ratings for the Leeds United vs Aston Villa fixture.

Goalkeeper

Emiliano Martínez - 6.5: He couldn't do anything about the early goal, which was scored from point-blank range. After that, he was solid as a rock. We noticed his three saves were all crucial, especially the one from Pascal Struijk's header late on. His command of the area gave his defenders confidence.

Defenders

Matty Cash - 7.0: A really energetic performance down the right flank. He was a constant outlet, creating a big chance with one of his two successful crosses. Defensively, he was mostly solid, winning six duels and making some key tackles, though he did commit a couple of fouls.

Ezri Konsa - 7.5: What stood out to us was his calmness on the ball. An incredible 97% pass accuracy shows just how composed he was under pressure. He also made a vital clearance off the line, which was a game-saving moment. A very classy and understated performance.

Pau Torres - 6.5: He had a mixed game, from our perspective. While he made nine ball recoveries and four clearances, he also lost possession 15 times, which is unlike him. He looked a little uncomfortable at times but grew into the game and was solid enough by the end.

Lucas Digne - 6.0: A fairly quiet first half for the Frenchman before he was substituted. He was tidy in possession and didn't make any glaring errors. The substitution felt more tactical than performance-based, as Villa needed a different approach.

Midfielders

John McGinn - 6.0: It was a typical battling display from the captain, but one that lacked quality. He was everywhere, as usual, but his final ball was off and he committed four fouls, earning a needless yellow card. It wasn't a surprise to see him subbed off.

Youri Tielemans - 7.5: He was the conductor in Villa's midfield. We noticed he was constantly demanding the ball, drawing four fouls and dictating the tempo of the game. He was a key part of Villa's second-half dominance before being given a rest.

Boubacar Kamara - 8.0: An absolute monster in the middle of the park. He won an incredible 10 out of 11 duels and made his presence felt with crucial tackles and interceptions. He provided the perfect shield for the back four, allowing the attacking players to flourish.

Emiliano Buendía - 5.5: We were personally disappointed with his contribution. He was anonymous in the first half, struggling to get on the ball or make any impact. He was rightly hooked at halftime after a performance he'll want to forget.

Forwards

Ollie Watkins - 6.0: It just wasn't his day. He worked his socks off as always, but he missed a big chance that you'd expect him to bury. He looked frustrated throughout and couldn't find the space he usually thrives in before being substituted.

Morgan Rogers - 9.0: The undisputed man of the match and our highest-rated player. He was simply electric. He showed great instinct for the first goal and then produced a moment of magic with the free-kick winner. He was a constant threat with his dribbling and a joy to watch.

Substitutes

Ian Maatsen - 7.0: Made a real impact after coming on at halftime, providing energy and width down the left.

Donyell Malen - 6.5: Looked lively and got into some dangerous positions, though he missed a decent chance.

Ross Barkley - 6.5: Helped Villa see out the game and drew the foul that led to the winning goal.

Jadon Sancho - 6.0: Didn't have much time to influence the game.

Lamare Bogarde - N/A: Came on late to shore things up.

Manager

U. Emery Etxegoien - 8.0: His halftime changes completely flipped the script. He identified what was wrong and his substitutions of Maatsen and Malen injected life into the team. A tactical masterclass that won his side the three points.

Leeds United Player Ratings vs Aston Villa

Check out the Leeds United player ratings for the Leeds United vs Aston Villa fixture.

Goalkeeper

Lucas Perri - 5.5: He made a couple of saves, but he looked vulnerable. From our perspective, he might have done better for the first Villa goal, which seemed to creep in at his near post. He had no chance with the free-kick, to be fair.

Defenders

Jayden Bogle - 6.0: He was a willing runner going forward and tried to make things happen. However, he was caught out defensively a few times and his yellow card was clumsy. A mixed bag of a performance.

Joe Rodon - 6.5: A warrior-like performance from the centre-back. He threw himself in front of everything, making five clearances and four interceptions. He did his best to hold the line but was ultimately on the losing side.

Pascal Struijk - 5.0: This was a day to forget for Struijk. What stood out to us for all the wrong reasons was his big missed header late on. To make matters worse, his clumsy foul led directly to Villa's winning goal. A costly performance.

Gabriel Gudmundsson - 7.0: He was one of Leeds' best players, which was a surprise to us. He was tenacious in the tackle, winning nine duels and making four successful tackles. He never stopped fighting for the cause down the left-hand side.

Midfielders

Ethan Ampadu - 6.5: The captain led by example with his work rate, recovering the ball nine times. However, he struggled to get a grip on the game as Villa's midfield took over in the second half. He also picked up a booking for a frustrated challenge.

Sean Longstaff - 6.5: He put in a real shift, covering a lot of ground and creating a couple of chances. He battled hard but was ultimately overwhelmed by the quality of Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara.

Anton Stach - N/A: It's a shame his game ended so early. He was forced off with an injury just 23 minutes in, so we can't fairly give him a rating.

Forwards

Brenden Aaronson - 6.0: Looked very dangerous in the first half with his quick feet and direct running. However, his influence completely disappeared after the break. He struggled to find space and was eventually substituted.

Noah Okafor - 5.5: A very ineffective performance. He lost the ball far too often and struggled to link up with his teammates. He offered very little threat before being taken off.

Lukas Nmecha - 7.0: He took his goal really well, showing a poacher's instinct to put Leeds ahead. He was a real handful in the first half but, like many of his teammates, he faded badly in the second half.

Substitutes

Ao Tanaka - 5.5: Came on for the injured Stach and picked up a yellow card, struggling to get into the rhythm of the game.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 6.0: Added a physical presence but missed a header he should have done better with.

Daniel James - 6.0: Offered pace but little end product.

Wilfried Gnonto - 5.5: Got booked and gave away fouls.

Joël Piroe - 6.0: Had a shot blocked but couldn't find the crucial equalizer.

Manager

D. Farke - 5.5: His team's fast start was impressive, but he had no plan B once Aston Villa changed their approach. His side looked lost in the second half, and his substitutions failed to make any positive impact on the game.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Morgan Rogers