Amadou Onana, Jhon Duran earn Aston Villa 2-1 EPL win at West Ham
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Aston Villa's Jhon Duran celebrates scoring their second goal with Morgan Rogers, Ian Maatsen and Amadou Onana in the 2-1 win over West Ham.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Aston Villa manager Unai Emery hailed a “fantastic” team effort as his side kicked off their English Premier League campaign with a 2-1 victory at West Ham United on Aug 17.
Last season’s fourth-placed side scored via Amadou Onana four minutes into his Villa debut and Jhon Duran, who netted a late winner in the 79th minute.
“It’s fantastic,” Emery said.
“Our victory feels very good and I’m very proud of our supporters, they were here with us for our first match, travelling from Birmingham to London to support us.
“The three points are very important for us where it’s very difficult in West Ham’s stadium. The performance we got with different players in 90 minutes was fantastic, the commitment, the behaviour before the match, how they were focusing was fantastic.
“I am very pleased with every player and how they played today.”
Onana, signed from Everton, leapt high to head home fellow Belgian Youri Tielemans’ corner in the fourth minute, easily darting away from Michail Antonio to beat goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
The 22-year-old Onana matched Kevin Phillips (2005) to become the joint-earliest scorer for Villa on their league debut.
“He’s got loads of confidence, loads of qualities. He’s just exposed all of that today,” Tielemans said of his new teammate. “Hopefully he can carry on and become even better than he is.”
Villa then squandered several excellent chances before Lucas Paqueta drew the hosts level from the penalty spot in the 37th minute, the spot kick awarded after a video assistant referee check showed Matty Cash had fouled Tomas Soucek.
Duran spoilt the home side’s evening, however, after Villa worked the ball down the left side and Jacob Ramsey’s cross found Duran for a left-footed shot from the centre of the area through Areola’s legs 11 minutes from time.
Emery’s Villa are riding high, competing in the Champions League this season for the first time in 41 years. They reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals last season.
“There’s loads of expectations around us now, (our top-four finish) was not by a miracle,” Tielemans added.
West Ham, after four years with David Moyes at the helm, have appointed Spanish manager Julen Lopetegui, who will be looking to improve on last season’s ninth place.
“On another day, (our chances) go in and it’s a different story,” Hammers forward Jarrod Bowen told Sky Sports.
“We controlled the game a little bit more in the second half. We had some really good chances to go ahead but didn’t.
“This is the first game, but there are 37 more. You never want (to lose) the first game of the season, but we need to pick ourselves up.” REUTERS
