By Aston Villa FC

Aston Villa opened their Premier League Summer Series with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Newcastle United in Philadelphia.

Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendía fired Villa into a quickfire two-goal lead with well-worked strikes inside the opening 11 minutes.

But the Magpies responded courtesy of Elliot Anderson and then Alexander Isak in first-half injury time to ensure an enthralling first period finished 2-2.

And the entertainment continued after the restart as Buendía bagged his second, before Callum Wilson wrapped up the scoring in front of 40,000 fans at Lincoln Financial Field.

Head coach Unai Emery handed debuts to Pau Torres and Youri Tielemans off the bench as the Villans continued their pre-season preparations in stifling heat in the USA.

Villa now travel to Orlando to face Fulham in their next Summer Series fixture on Wednesday.

Aston Villa v Newcastle United

Tyrone Mings put in a superb block to deny Isak early on and it was Villa who opened the scoring moments later.

Buendía burst through from the halfway line before cutting inside on the edge of the penalty area and finding Watkins, who coolly slotted past Martin Dubravka.

And it was 2-0 in the 11th minute as McGinn showed his strength in the middle of the park and found Douglas Luiz, he fed Buendía and the Argentina international powered home.

Aston Villa v Newcastle United

Villa were causing all sorts of problems and Watkins came close to a third before Jaden Philogene saw his strike deflected narrowly wide.

Yet the Magpies pulled one back just before the half hour as Anderson beat the offside trap, cut inside and slotted past Emi Martínez.

And Newcastle levelled in first-half injury time as they won possession in a dangerous area, Martínez parried Anderson’s initial effort but Isak was on hand to drill home the rebound from close range.

Aston Villa v Newcastle United

Boss Emery handed a debut to Torres at half-time as the summer signing was introduced alongside Diego Carlos, Robin Olsen and Omari Kellyman.

And the latter played a key role in Villa’s third goal just moments after his introduction, seeing his strike at the end of a flowing team move pushed on to a post by Dubravka before Buendía followed up to tap home.

Yet, in an end-to-end encounter, it was Newcastle who levelled again in the 55th minute as Olsen parried Anthony Gordon’s effort and Wilson converted the rebound.

Buendía and Kellyman both had chances to add a fourth, before Tielemans was introduced off the bench for his Villa bow alongside Cameron Archer, Aaron Ramsey and Seb Revan.

Aston Villa v Newcastle United

Calum Chambers and Kadan Young were next to come on as the pace of the game started the slow heading in the closing stages.

But there was still time for both sides to go close to a winner, Olsen saving well from Harvey Barnes before Chambers went close with a header as it finished all square.



Aston Villa: Martínez (Olsen 46), Cash, Konsa (Carlos 46), Mings (Torres 46), Digne (Revan 62), Kamara (Tielemans 62), Luiz (Chambers 71), Philogene (Young 71), McGinn (Kellyman 46), Buendía (A Ramsey 62), Watkins (Archer 62).

Subs: Marschall.

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