Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion have continued their preparations ahead of the resumption of the Premier League by playing out a 2-2 draw in Dubai.
The two teams are no strangers to each other having squared off in their final competitive game before the World Cup break, Villa prevailing 2-1 in the Premier League on that occasion.
Unlike then when early goals were the main feature at the Amex Stadium, all four strikes on Thursday came in the final quarter, Denis Undav netting twice for Brighton in between a Danny Ings effort and a Lewis Dunk own goal for their opponents.
Although Emiliano Martinez and Matty Cash remained unavailable due to their World Cup activity, Villa boss Unai Emery arguably named the strongest XI available to him, Robin Olsen and Ashley Young deputising for the absence pair.
Meanwhile, Brighton's team was largely made up of regulars, with youngster Andrew Moran being given the chance to impress in midfield by Roberto De Zerbi with Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister having been representing Ecuador and Argentina in Qatar.
Villa had the better of the first half with Emiliano Buendia going close before two long-range Douglas Luiz's efforts threatened an opening goal.
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Leon Bailey also went close for the West Midlands outfit, curling marginally wide of the post, and it took the introduction of a number of substitutes before Villa deservedly went ahead.
After a mistake in the Brighton defence, Villa were able to capitalise with Ings eventually converting from close range, seemingly putting his side on the way to the win.
However, Brighton were level with 15 minutes remaining, Undav scoring the first of his two strikes with a composed low finish.
The flurry of goals continued six minutes later, Undav netting his second in quick succession, benefitting from a pass from Pascal Gross before finding the bottom corner with his resulting shot.
A fourth goal in the space of 17 second-half minutes arrived soon afterwards, young Villa midfielder Arjan Raikhy supplying a pass into the box before the ball was eventually put into his own net by Dunk.
Darren Plant
