BG Pathum United 1-3 Aston Villa

Boubacar Kamara marked his return to action with a goal, as Aston Villa triumphed 3-1 over BG Pathum United in the second friendly outing of their pre-season tour of Asia.

The midfielder – sporting his new No.8 shirt – was introduced from the bench in the 61st minute, making his first appearance since rupturing knee ligaments in early January, and needed just one minute to stroke a clean strike into the bottom corner after George Hemmings had teed him up inside the area.

Unai Emery’s men had led 2-0 at half-time, after kick-off had been delayed in Bangkok, Thailand, thanks to goals from Emi Buendía and Victor Lindelöf in the opening period at True BG Stadium.

Kamara then completed his side’s scoring just after the hour mark to ensure a successful end to the second leg of Villa’s pre-season trip, despite a late response from BG Pathum substitute Leon James.

The headline as far as team news was concerned was Kamara back in a Villa matchday squad for the first time since sustaining his knee injury in January. He and Tammy Abraham were among the substitutes, with Matty Cash leading the Villans out with the captain’s armband.

Action in Pathum Thani did not get underway until 45 minutes after its original billing, owing to a heavy downpour of evening rain in Thailand.

But that didn’t stop Villa from bursting out of the blocks when kick-off eventually did come around, controlling the opening period and keeping their hosts well at bay with the majority of the ball.

It took them just 12 minutes to break the deadlock, when a neat team move involving a lot of patient build-up eventually saw Lamare Bogarde thread a ball through for Cash, who pulled back for Buendía. The Argentine did the rest, steering an assured finish into the far corner for his second goal of pre-season.

The visitors continued to build out from the back and remained in pursuit of a second goal, Alysson sending a teasing ball across the face midway through the opening period which was crying out for a touch to take it over the line.

The lead was however doubled 10 minutes later, just after the half-hour mark. Buendía’s effort was deflected behind, and from Alysson’s resulting corner, Lindelöf lost his marker to guide an unstoppable header into the far corner for 2-0.

Villa were well on top by this stage, and kept their foot on the gas. Minutes later, Alysson had raced in behind and seen his effort deflected behind by a last-ditch challenge, before João Gomes half-volleyed wide from the edge of the box moments later.

Hemmings was introduced from the bench as the opening period neared its conclusion, and almost had an instant impact when firing goalwards, but Yeferson Quintana was well positioned to poke the effort behind and ensure Villa took a two-goal lead into the break.

The early exchanges of the second 45 brought much more of the same so far as Villa were concerned. Six changes from Emery at the interval freshened things up, as one of them, Luka Lynch, saw an effort blocked from inside the area.

Minutes later, the visitors were within inches of a third. Captain John McGinn cut inside onto his left foot and let fly from distance, seeing a venomous effort cannon off the underside of the crossbar and away, with the goalkeeper beaten.

Brian Madjo – who was declared eligible to represent the Villans in competitive action this season in the lead up to kick-off – was denied from close range just before the hour mark, before Kamara climbed up off the substitute’s bench minutes later to smiles from all of a claret and blue persuasion.

And Frenchman needed just one minute to mark his first appearance since January with a goal, as a cross into the box fell to the feet of Hemmings, who laid his midfield teammate off, Kamara steering into the bottom corner to complete a perfect return to the side.

Madjo would come close again midway through the second period when an attempted clearance from the goalkeeper ricocheted off the towering forward and rolled wide, though from then on, the closing stages saw the hosts attempt to mount something of a comeback.

After slowly growing back into the game, the 83rd minute saw Vladimir Vujović’s side get themselves on the scoresheet, as Leon picked the ball up on the edge of the area and let fly from 18 yards out, sending a superb effort soaring into the top corner, leaving Marco Bizot with no chance.

And after threating to breach the visiting defence on a few more occasions as the game entered into added time, Pathum went close again, calling Bizot into action as he clawed away an effort which had deflected off young defender TJ Carroll, who was one of only two outfield players to complete the 90 minutes for Villa.

Three minutes of stoppage time – indicated after McGinn had to be withdrawn early due to injury – soon ticked away, and the Villans successfully saw out a 3-1 victory. They now travel to Hong Kong where they face German giants Bayern Munich on Friday (ko 1pm BST), at Kai Tak Stadium.

Villa: Bizot; Cash (c) (Maatsen 46’), Carroll, Lindelöf (Pau Torres 46’), Rowe; Bogarde (Kamara 61’), João Gomes (Lynch 46’); Alysson (McGinn 46’ (off 77’)), Buendía (Burrowes 46’), Garnacho (Hemmings 43’); Guessand (Madjo 46’).

Subs not used: Wright, Asemota; Nedeljković, Abraham.

Goals: Buendía (12’), Lindelöf (31’), Kamara (62’).

BG Pathum: Saranon (Nalawich 46’ (Issarapong 81’)); Chanon (Tanasith 64’), Quintana (Chanapach 46’ (booked 80’)), Kaman (c) (Itthimon 73’), Raniel (Anthony 46’), Surachat (Saharat 64’), Doi (Verkamp 45+1’ (Pawee 81’)), Yanagi (Leon 73’ (booked 74’)), Pongrawit (Joao 45+1’), Edwards (Akarapong 46’), Edin (Witthawat 81’).

Subs not used: Thanakorn.

Goals: Leon (83’).