Aston Villa won the Queensland Champions Cup with victory against Brisbane Roar in Townsville on Wednesday night.
Cameron Archer’s smart finish after 77 minutes proved to be decisive, with Kaine Kesler Hayden instrumental in creating the goal.
A win against the A League side followed Sunday’s success against Leeds United, seeing Villa finish as victors of the pre-season tournament.
Villa arrived at the home of NRL side North Queensland Cowboys knowing that a win or draw would see them win the three-team tournament, and they were boosted by No1 Emiliano Martínez making his pre-season debut.
Bertrand Traoré had an early sight of goal for the Villans as they monopolised possession and penned Brisbane back, but the A League side held their own as the half wore on.
A fortuitous ricochet off the referee kickstarted a Roar move that ended with Jez Lofthouse cutting in from the left and curling a shot narrowly wide of the far post.
Leon Bailey, Traoré and John McGinn all tried their luck from distance but failed to test Macklin Freke before a flurry of action in front of the Brisbane goal before the break.
A superb crossfield pass from Calum Chambers picked out Ings, who chested the ball beyond the last defender and saw his dinked effort tipped onto the outside of the post by Freke.
From the resulting corner, a goalmouth scramble ensued and saw two goalline clearances as the score remained goalless at half-time.
Steven Gerrard made ten changes for the second half, leaving Martínez in goal and handing Ludwig Augustinsson a first outing in claret and blue.
Seeing their first action of the tour, Kesler Hayden and Archer looked keen to impress from the start, the former driving a shot that was parried before Archer fired wide.
Freke was enjoying a strong night between the posts for Brisbane and he was equal to Emiliano Buendia’s teasing cross with Archer running across him.
However, the Roar stopper was relieved to see Villa’s young striker slash wide after fine work from Kesler Hayden to tee him up.
The Archer-Kesler Hayden combination provided the breakthrough with 13 minutes left to play when the full-back’s low cross was controlled and smartly finished by Archer.
It proved to be decisive as substitute goalkeeper Robin Olsen was untroubled during the remainder of the contest.
Aston Villa first half starting XI: Martinez, Cash, Digne, Carlos, Chambers, McGinn, Kamara, Coutinho, Bailey, Traore, Ings.
Aston Villa second half starting XI: Martinez, Kesler Hayden, Konsa, MIngs, Augustinsson, Iroegbunam, Luiz, J.Ramsey, Buendía, Archer, Watkins.
