Aston Villa wrapped up their Premier League Summer Series with a 3-3 draw against Brentford in Landover, Maryland.
The entertaining clash in sweltering conditions at FedExField proved another step in the club’s pre-season preparations with the 2023/24 top-flight campaign less than two weeks away.
Having found themselves two goals down after Bryan Mbeumo’s early penalty and Josh Dasilva’s long-range strike, Unai Emery’s side showed spirit aplenty to fight back and lead 3-2 at the break courtesy of three goals in 10 minutes.
Ezri Konsa bagged a superb solo goal which took him from just outside his own area before finding the top corner, Moussa Diaby registered his second goal in as many games and then Matty Cash completed the comeback with a left-footed strike.
But the Bees levelled midway through the second half courtesy of Shandon Baptiste to ensure it finished all square.
It brought an end to Villa’s unbeaten tour of the USA following a 3-3 draw against Newcastle United in Philadelphia and 2-0 win over Fulham in Orlando.
Villa came close to breaking the deadlock inside the opening three minutes but Jaden Philogene could not quite fully connect with Cash’s deep cross.
Kevin Schade was then inches away at the other end, although the Bees opened the scoring early on.
A long ball over the top saw Schade break free and, despite calls for offside, he broke into the area before being upended by Konsa, with Mbeumo converting the resulting penalty.
Ollie Watkins almost provided an instant response but saw the ball roll agonisingly wide after Villa won possession in a dangerous area.
Yet Brentford doubled their lead in the 23rd minute as Dasilva cut inside and curled into the top corner from distance.
However, Konsa responded with a stunning goal of the tournament contender as he picked up the ball in his own half, embarked on a surging run which saw him beat three players before firing into the top corner from 12 yards.
And it was 2-2 moments later as Diaby fired through a crowd of bodies inside the box and beat Mark Flekken with a low strike.
Villa duly completed the quick turnaround as Cash received the ball from John McGinn after great work from the skipper, cut inside and drilled left-footed beyond Flekken to make it 3-2.
McGinn then came close to a fourth himself before the break as his strike flew just wide following super build-up play, with Villa leading at the interval.
Diego Carlos replaced Konsa at half-time, with Villa almost adding a fourth moments after the restart as Watkins fired off target when well placed.
Boss Emery made four substitutions on the hour mark, introducing Lucas Digne, Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendía and Leon Bailey.
Cash fizzed a ball across the face of goal as Villa continued to press forward, but it was Brentford who levelled in the 67th minute as Baptiste slotted home the rebound after Keane Lewis-Potter’s long-range strike came back off the underside of the crossbar.
More changes followed as Calum Chambers, Cameron Archer and Philippe Coutinho stepped on to the pitch.
Both sides went in search of a winner in the midday heat but it finished honours even as Villa’s tour of the USA came to a close.
Aston Villa: Martínez, Cash (Chambers 71), Konsa (Carlos 46), Mings, Torres (Digne 60), Kamara (Tielemans 60), Luiz, McGinn (Bailey 60), Philogene (Buendía 60), Diaby (Coutinho 71), Watkins (Archer 71).
Subs: Marschall, Revan, Kellyman, Young.
