<p>LEEDS, England — Anwar El Ghazi’s early goal clinched Aston Villa a 1-0 win at Leeds and lifted his side to within a point of the English Premier League top six on Saturday.</p>
<p>El Ghazi was left unmarked to turn home the only goal from close range in the fifth minute and dogged defending saw Villa avenge its 3-0 home loss to Leeds in October.</p>
<p>Villa secured just its second win in seven league games on the road, while Leeds’ up-and-down first season back in the top-flight continued.</p>
<p>Marcelo Bielsa’s side was denied back-to-back home wins after Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat of Southampton and was rarely allowed to hit the same heights.</p>
<p>When Raphinha went close to scoring inside the opening 30 seconds — he just failed to connect with Patrick Bamford’s cross — it appeared this would be another entertaining game at Elland Road.</p>
<p>But while it ebbed and flowed in the first half, Villa shut down its opponents after the interval and, for Leeds, the game ended in a whimper.</p>
<p>Villa had a penalty appeal turned down when a corner struck Luke Ayling on his arm and then capitalized on sloppy Leeds defending to take the lead.</p>
<p>Ollie Watkins slipped as he fired at goal, but the ball found its way to the unmarked El Ghazi in the six-yard box and, although he also lost his footing, he steered home his sixth league goal of the season.</p>
<p>Leeds responded through midfielder Tyler Roberts, but his thumping effort was well saved by Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and then El Ghazi twice went close to extending Villa’s lead.</p>
<p>The Dutchman’s first shot was tipped over the crossbar by Illan Meslier and he pulled his second, a low effort, just wide.</p>
<p>Stuart Dallas fired in a low shot and home skipper Liam Cooper headed straight at Martinez as Leeds chased an equalizer.</p>
<p>El Ghazi maintained his shoot-on-sight policy, but was wayward with another effort and at the other end Helder Costa’s low shot was blocked and Roberts fired over, with Leeds restricted to half-chances as halftime beckoned.</p>
<p>Leeds’ players continued to force the issue at the start of the second period, but the killer pass eluded them.</p>
<p>Cooper did just enough to divert Villa captain Tyrone Mings’ header wide from a corner, but the free-flowing action before the break made way for a more scrappy affair.</p>
<p>Leeds struggled to break down a resilient defense and when substitute Jack Harrison’s late cross offered the team its best chance of rescuing a point, Raphinha fluffed his header.</p>
<hr />
<p>More AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Sports">https://twitter.com/AP_Sports</a></p>
