West Ham transfer target Jhon Duran hit Aston Villa’s winner at the London Stadium as Unai Emery’s men kicked off their Premier League season with a 2-1 victory.
The 20-year-old Colombian received a talking to from Emery after posing on social media with his arms crossed in an apparent reference to the Hammers’ ‘Irons’ symbol as the clubs tried to negotiate a fee earlier this summer.
But Duran celebrated with what appeared to be an apology in front of the travelling fans after sweeping in Jacob Ramsey’s pass to get Villa off to a winning start.
Villa had opened the scoring after just four minutes when £50m man Amadou Onana made an instant impact with an unmarked header from a corner, but, after Leon Bailey hit a post and John McGinn shot inches wide as Emery’s side looked to double their advantage, the home team hit back.
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Debutant Amadou Onana gives Aston Villa a dream start at West Ham with an early opener
Matty Cash was incensed when ref Tony Harrington pointed to the spot when he tangled with Tomas Soucek but VAR upheld the officials’ call and Lucas Paqueta coolly sent Emi Martinez the wrong way.
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Lucas Paqueta scores the first goal of the Julen Lopetegui era to draw West Ham level against Aston Villa
West Ham – second best for the first half hour – suddenly had momentum as they pushed for three points in Julen Lopetegui’s first game in charge, with Soucek seeing a shot blocked after Mohammed Kudus’ ‘Rabona’ cross. But Villa continued to threaten themselves and Konstantinos Mavropanos was forced into a double block to deny Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers.
Villa eventually broke through again. And in a second half which saw two of the most active clubs in the transfer window hand out more debuts, it was Duran, a player who has ultimately stayed at Villa, who made the difference.
There was drama right at the last, when Soucek hooked over from close range in the 97th minute – but the headlines belonged to Duran.
More to follow…
