Aston Villa promoted to EPL

LONDON: Aston Villa were promoted to the English Premier League after beating Derby County 2-1 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Monday.Villa, who were relegated in 2016, pulled ahead in the 44th minute thanks to Anwar El Ghazi’s strike and doubled the lead in the 59th minute with a second goal from John McGinn.Derby, managed by Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, made it 2-1 in the 81st minute when substitute Jack Marriott’s effort from eight yards took a deflection off Martyn Waghorn on its way in.Villa, beaten in last year’s final by Fulham, was the third team to win promotion from the Championship after winners Norwich and runners-up Sheffield United. (PTI)