RECAP: Leipzig Kick Off Tour with Strong 2-0 Win

HARRISON, N.J. – RB Leipzig start their summer tour with a decisive win at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday night over Aston Villa 2-0. First half goals from Andre Silva and Lois Openda decided the game as Villa were frustrated by sharp passing and incisive counter attacking from Marco Rose’s men.

Leipzig started with a team that looked very similar to that of Bundesliga league match squad. Goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi played a full 90 minutes while Willi Orban, Mohamed Simakan, Openda and Amadou Haidara started the game. Villa, for the most part, were missing key starters such as Ollie Watkins. Still, Leipzig were able to control the pace of the game and spring into the attack when needed.

The scoring opened in the 17th minute when Haidara stripped the ball from a Villa defender and quickly found Silva in the 16 yard box. The Portuguese striker pounced on the effort to open the scoring. Villa had little in the way of a response, relying heavily on Leon Bailey’s wing play to carry them in attack. Leipzig doubled the lead in the 41st minute when the Belgian striker Openda’s effort was initially saved by the back-up goalkeeper Oliwier Zych before putting away the rebound.

The game took an ugly turn during the celebration when Diego Carlos shoved Openda, drawing an unusual red card during a friendly, pushing head coach Unai Emery into tactical changes that did little to shift the result.

Leipzig’s first game in New York was a tactical success that also saw many young players take to the field in the second half. While they were unable to find the back of the net, there were strong and positive performances that will give Rose and his staff much to think about ahead of their second game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday in Miami.

STARTING XI:

RB Leipzig: Gulacsi; Simakan, Orban, Bitshiabu, Elmas, Haidara, Openda, Silva, Klostermann, Ouedraogo, Kampl

Aston Villa FC: Olsen; Cash, Diego Carlos, Barkley, McGinn, Digne, Torres, Iling Jr., Onana, Rogers, Bailey

SCORING SUMMARY:
17′ (RB Leipzig) Andre Silva assisted by Amadou Haidara
41′ (RB Leipzig) Lois Openda unassisted


DISCIPLINE:
27′ (RB Leipzig) Lois Openda – YELLOW CARD
27′ (Aston Villa) Diego Carlos – YELLOW CARD
41′ (Aston Villa) Diego Carlos – RED CARD