El-Ghazi’s late penalty helps Aston Villa sink Wolves

LONDON: Aston Villa stole a 1-0 lead in the Premier League at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday after replacement Anwar El-Ghazi drilled in a stoppage-time penalty as both sides ended the game with 10 players.

In the 85th minute, Villa had Douglas Luiz sent off and Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho was fired soon after the visitors scored to record their fourth away victory of the season against the run of play.

The outcome at Molineux Stadium lifted Villa to eighth out of 10 games on 18 points, while Wolves, once again desperately without injured striker Raul Jimenez, remained 11th out of 12 games on 17 points.

With their 18-year old striker Fabio Silva finding the post halfway through the second half when he made his first start for the club, the home side looked more likely to catch the winner in a dour game.

Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez pulled off multiple fine saves, taming Daniel Podence’s stinging low shot before he kept a fierce Leander Dendoncker volley out 10 minutes from time somehow.

Nelson Semedo hauled down John McGinn in the penalty area as the match appeared to be headed for a draw and El-Ghazi made no error with the spot-kick when he shot the ball past keeper Rui Patricio.

Meanwhile, in their clash at Elland Road on Friday, two headed goals from set pieces by midfielder Tomas Soucek and defender Angelo Ogbonna helped West Ham United come back from a goal down to defeat Leeds United 2-1.

In the second minute, as he pulled down Patrick Bamford, West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski conceded a penalty and appeared to have redempted himself by saving Mateusz Klich’s spot kick.

However, owing to Fabianski leaving his line, a retake was ordered and Klich scored at the second attempt.

In the 25th minute, Soucek put West Ham level, outmuscling defender Stuart Dallas to head the ball into the net. Thanks to Ogbonna’s far-post header from an Aaron Cresswell free kick 10 minutes from time, the visitors took the lead.

Now with Chelsea as the top scorers in the league from set pieces with eight goals, the victory raises the Hammers to fifth place in the table after 12 games with 20 points. On 14 points, Leeds remain in 14th position.