Amadou Onana scored four minutes into his Aston Villa debut and Jhon Durán netted the late winner as Unai Emery’s men kicked off their Premier League season with a 2-1 victory at West Ham United on Saturday.
The 22-year-old Onana, signed from Everton, leapt high to head home Youri Tielemans‘ corner in the fourth minute, easily darting away from Michail Antonio to beat keeper Alphonse Areola from three yards out.
Villa squandered several excellent chances before Lucas Paquetá drew the hosts level from the penalty spot in the 37th minute, the spot-kick awarded after a VAR check showed Matty Cash had fouled Tomás Soucek.
Duran spoiled 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 full-time.
Onana’s header matched Kevin Phillips’ fourth-minute strike against Bolton Wanderers in 2005 as the joint earliest goals by players making their Villa league debuts.
Villa had a couple of excellent chances to double their lead, first when Leon Bailey had Areola beaten before hitting the post from a tight angle and John McGinn‘s shot rolled just wide.
Paqueta equalised soon after, beating keeper Emiliano Martínez with a stop-start run-up before calmly side-footing the ball into the bottom left corner.
West Ham were close to equalising seconds before the final whistle but Soucek’s header was cleared off the line by Ezri Konsa.
Hopes are high for Emery’s team with Villa competing in the Champions League this season for the first time in 41 years, having finished fourth in the Premier League last season.
West Ham, after four years with David Moyes at the helm, have appointed Spanish manager Julen Lopetegui who will be looking to improve on their ninth-place finish last season.
