Morgan Rogers sets Champions League scoring record as Duran stays on bench for Villa amid Saudi link

By Canadian Press on January 29, 2025.

Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers now has a Champions League scoring feat for which Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Erling Haaland would be proud.

With goals in the third and fifth minutes against Celtic, Rogers become the first player to score twice in the opening five minutes of a Champions League game, statistics supplier Opta said.

The England international wound up with a hat trick after scoring his third goal in second-half stoppage time to wrap up a 4-2 win as Villa finished in eighth place to qualify automatically for the round of 16.

The 22-year-old Rogers marked his goals at Villa Park with a Cole Palmer-style celebration, rubbing his hands over his arms in a “cold” pose.

It continued Rogers’ breakthrough season at Villa — and his goals might be important going forward this season.

There was speculation in the British media Wednesday linking Jhon Duran, Villa’s back-up striker from Colombia, with a move to Saudi Arabia. Villa has not officially commented on any transfer.

Duran was an unused substitute against Celtic, with fellow striker Ollie Watkins playing the whole game and scoring Villa’s other goal — while also missing a penalty after slipping when attempting to kick the ball.

Watkins was playing amid speculation about his own future, with Arsenal reportedly having made a bid for the England striker that was rejected. Watkins is a boyhood Arsenal fan.

Villa is playing in Europe’s top competition for the first time since the 1982-83 season, when it was defending champion.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Steve Douglas, The Associated Press