Morgan Rogers celebrates birthday with goal in Aston Villa friendly draw
Morgan Rogers made it a birthday to remember by scoring in Villa’s 2-2 friendly draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Halesowen-born attacker celebrated turning 23 by finding the target in Louisville on Saturday night as Unai Emery’s team ramped up their pre-season preparations.
Ollie Watkins was also on target, while Emi Martinez was an unused substitute for the first match of the club’s US tour.
Both teams had to contend with stifling heat at the Lynn Family Stadium.
Rogers said: “The conditions are tough, it’s hot out here, but that’s the challenge of pre-season, getting yourself fit and getting yourself ready.
“It’s another experience, another challenge and I’m just happy to be back out here.”
Martinez, whose future has been the subject of speculation throughout the summer, waved to Villa supporters as he warmed up before the match but didn’t make it onto the pitch during the 90 minutes.
New signing Marco Bizot played for the first 65 minutes, with Joe Gauci replacing him.
Watkins fired Villa ahead in the 12th minute when he converted Donyell Malen’s cross, before Elye Wahi levelled the scores.
Rogers, one of four half-time substitutes, restored Villa’s advantage when he finished another cross from the impressive Malen but Emery’s team were denied a win when Eba Bekir squared things for a second time, with eight minutes remaining.
“They’re a good team, they do well in their league so it’s a good challenge early on in pre-season, especially for the ones who came back a bit later,” said Rogers, who like most of Emery’s senior players was appearing in his first match of the summer.
“It was good to get minutes under our belt, playing in a different environment against a good team and it will put us in good stead.
“It’s been good being back with the team, integrating with each other again, a few new faces as well, a few young lads, so it’s just nice to be together again.
“There is another challenge ahead, it’s a big, long season and we are looking forward to it.”
Villa, who returned to their Nashville base after the match, head to St Louis City for their next friendly on Wednesday night.
“We started in the first two weeks with a lot of young players from the academy,” said Emery.
“Of course, for them it’s very important as well to play and train with us.
“Now we're adding the players who were arriving later for different circumstances, like playing with the national team.
“This is the first match they played, they got 45 minutes, they’re getting fit, good rhythm individually and collectively, tactically as well, to start doing things we will want to do this year.”
