Morgan Rogers stole the spotlight at Elland Road, scoring twice in the second half as Aston Villa overturned an early deficit to beat Leeds United and deepen the pressure on manager Daniel Farke.
Leeds went ahead in chaotic fashion inside eight minutes. Sean Longstaff’s free-kick was nodded back across goal by Gabriel Gudmundsson, and goalkeeper Emi Martinez was beaten in the air by Anton Stach.
Stach’s header was cleared off the line, only to ricochet off Lukas Nmecha and into the net.
After a lengthy VAR check, the scrappy effort was confirmed.
Villa offered little before the break, but Unai Emery’s half-time changes shifted the momentum.
Substitute Donyell Malen whipped in a low cross, and Rogers cleverly flicked it past Illan Meslier to level the game.
With 15 minutes left, Rogers completed the turnaround in style, curling a stunning free-kick from the edge of the box into the top corner.
Leeds briefly believed they had equalised moments later, but VAR ruled that Dominic Calvert-Lewin handled the ball before scoring.
The defeat leaves Leeds stuck in the relegation zone after a third straight loss, heightening scrutiny on Farke’s future.
Villa, meanwhile, continue their impressive run with six wins in seven and could finish the weekend in the top four depending on Tottenham’s result against Arsenal.
What began as a rare slice of fortune quickly unravelled.
Leeds’ scruffy opener-Nmecha’s third of the season-offered hope for a side starved of goals, but the second-half display was flat and error-strewn.
Key decisions from Farke did little to help.
Persisting with the out-of-form Brenden Aaronson frustrated supporters, while withdrawing the energetic Ao Tanaka removed much-needed control in midfield.
With Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool looming, Leeds needed momentum-not another setback.
Although Farke received applause before and after the match, the tension was clear.
One supporter even breached the technical area to confront the manager, reflecting rising anger in the stands.
Villa’s resurgence continues. After a winless opening run, they’ve now lost only once in seven matches and are pushing toward the Champions League places.
Ollie Watkins, however, endured another frustrating afternoon.
The striker missed two big chances and remains stuck on one league goal, a dip that may explain his recent England omission.
Thankfully for Emery, Rogers delivered.
His sharp finish for the equaliser and sublime free-kick winner showcased the composure Villa needed on a day when their main striker misfired.
Martinez also redeemed his early mistake with a crucial late stop to deny Pascal Struijk.
While questions linger over Villa’s reliance on long-range goals-more than half of their league strikes have come from outside the box-the team’s depth and resilience once again proved decisive.
