UEFA Youth League: Aston Villa 2-1 Fenerbahçe

Aston Villa saw off Fenerbahçe 2-1 to secure their first points in the UEFA Youth League on Matchday Two.

Daniel Adediran headed the Young Lions in front midway through the first half at Bodymoor Heath.

Markie Meade fired against the outside of a post just before the break as Villa looked to double their advantage in a competitive European encounter.

And it was substitute Erin Orebowale, having just been introduced, who added a crucial second goal from close range in the 67^th minute.

Emin Sayar reduced the arrears 12 minutes from time with a well-taken 20-yard strike off the inside of a post, but Villa stood firm to claim all three points.

Jimmy Shan’s side will be looking to build on the victory when they host Viking in the prestigious youth competition next Wednesday.

Both sides were looking to get their first points on the board following Matchday One defeats, Villa losing at Club Brugge while Fenerbahçe fell to defeat against Roma.

Owen Asemota was forced to tip over from Sayar in the opening exchanges, before the Villa ‘keeper slipped as Alaettin Ekici raced clean through soon afterwards only to send his low effort across goal and wide.

A high-tempo start to the encounter saw Josh Blake send a teasing ball across the face of goal at the other end before the hosts opened the scoring.

Villa worked it well down the right and Johnson sent over a deep cross for Adediran to head home from eight yards.

Cagri Balta saw an effort ruled out for offside on the half-hour mark before firing off target from inside the area shortly afterwards as the visitors pressed for a leveller.

Yet it was the Young Lions who went closest to doubling their advantage before the break as Meade turned inside the area and lashed an effort against the outside of the far post.

Adediran sliced off target from a promising position soon after the restart before Asemota was called into action at the other end.

Clear-cut opportunities became limited as the second half wore on, with much of the action in the middle of the pitch.

But that all changed in the 67^th minute as the Villans doubled their advantage.

Sub Orebowale had only been on the pitch a matter of three minutes when he received a pass from Max Jenner down the left before taking a touch and finishing neatly from six yards.

But Fenerbahçe gave themselves a lifeline in the 78^th minute as Sayar collected the ball on the edge of the area and drilled a fierce strike past Asemota, off a post and into the net.

The Turkish side applied late pressure in search of an equaliser but Shan’s Villans stood firm to see out the victory and claim the spoils.

Aston Villa: Asemota, Burgess, Carroll, Routh, Blake, Boyd (Melhuish 89), Jenner, Johnson (Moss 81), Meade (Kellyman 64), Bindley (Lloyd 64), Adediran (Orebowale 64).

Unused subs: Oakley, Mudame, Ketebu, Hayward.