Villa crank up pressure on big four after thriller
Ashley Young scored his first goals since September
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Sunday, 07, Dec 2008 09:08
A stoppage time goal from Ashley Young gave Aston Villa a thrilling 3-2 win over Everton at Goodison Park.
The scores were level at the break after Steve Sidwell's goal in the opening minute was cancelled out by Joleon Lescott.
Martin O'Neill's men regained the lead when Young scored but Everton looked to have snatched a draw when Lescott grabbed his second in stoppage time.
But a minute later, Young pounced again to see Villa close the gap on Arsenal to a point while Everton slip to eighth place.
In the battle between two sides trying to break into the top four, Villa drew first blood in the opening minute when James Milner's lay-off fell to Sidwell who thumped a stunning shot into the net from the edge of the box.
Everton responded well to conceding an early goal with Tim Cahill's half-volley parried by Brad Friedel while Victor Anichebe felt he should have had a penalty when barged by Milner.
But their possession was rewarded on the half-hour mark when Leon Osman flicked on Mikel Arteta's free-kick, allowing Lescott to tap in.
The Toffees continued to press and came agonizingly close to grabbing a deserved lead when Carlos Cuellar had to clear Marouane Fellaini's looping header off the line.
The second half followed the same pattern with David Moyes' men carving out the better chances. They should have taken the lead when Fellaini's header from two yards out was somehow saved by Friedel's outstretched arm.
But Villa regained the lead after a woeful backpass from Phil Jagielka which fell into the path of winger Young who stroked the ball past Howard on 54 minutes.
Moyes brought on Andy van der Meyde, for his first appearance since April 2007, and Leighton Baines in a bid to snatch an equaliser in the final minutes.
They came agonizingly close to an equaliser when Jospeh Yobo headed wide from six yards after Friedel flapped at a cross.
In the three minutes of stoppage time, Everton looked to have secured a point when Lescott hooked in a stunning volley.
But a minute later, Lescott was left red-faced when he was bamboozled by Young who slotted the ball past Howard to clinch a breathtaking victory.