Yet just like last week versus Bournemouth, the Toffees conceded three times and wound up in disbelief that their wobbly defense has given up 13 goals in four matches this Premier League season.
Unai Emery’s Villans climb back into the top four with a win, their third to go with a loss to Arsenal. Ollie Watkins got his first two goals of the season to level the score line before Duran’s magnificent finish delivered all three points to Villa.
Aston Villa go to Switzerland to restart life in the UEFA Champions League with a 12:45pm ET Tuesday kickoff at Young Boys. They’ll get a visit from Wolves when they return to the Premier League at 10am Saturday.
Everton’s Nightmare Continues
Everton came out firing against Aston Villa and looked poised to collect their first win of the season. Dwight McNeil opened the scoring in the 16th minute, capitalizing on a lapse in Villa’s defense to fire a shot past Emiliano Martinez. The Toffees doubled their lead just eleven minutes later when Dominic Calvert-Lewin flicked a header past Martinez from a Dwight McNeil free-kick.
Everton appeared to be on cruise control, and the Villa Park crowd grew restless. But just when the Toffees seemed destined for a first Premier League win, the wheels came off. Villa slowly but surely started to gain control of the game. They dominated possession, and their attacking pressure began to tell.
The Ollie Watkins Resurgence
Villa pulled one back just before half-time through Ollie Watkins, who rose highest to head home a cross from Lucas Digne. The goal gave Villa a much-needed boost, and they carried that momentum into the second half.
The equalizer came in the 58th minute, when Watkins capitalized on a defensive blunder from Jack Harrison to fire past Jordan Pickford. Villa continued to press forward, and their relentless pressure finally paid off in the 76th minute. Jhon Duran, who had only come on as a substitute six minutes earlier, received a short pass from Ross Barkley just outside the penalty area and unleashed a stunning strike into the top corner of the goal. This gave Villa the lead and ultimately the three points.
Jhon Duran’s Moment of Magic
Duran’s goal was a moment of individual brilliance that highlighted his talent and potential. The 20-year-old Colombian has shown flashes of brilliance this season, and his goal against Everton was a reminder that he is a player to watch out for in the future.
Everton’s defense continues to be a huge liability. They have now conceded 13 goals in their first four games, and they will need to improve dramatically if they want to avoid a relegation battle.
Villa’s Comeback Complete
The victory solidified Villa’s place in the top four of the Premier League table. The win also gave them a much-needed confidence boost ahead of their return to Champions League action. The team is now looking forward to a challenging away trip to Young Boys in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying round.
Overall, this was a disappointing day for Everton, but a testament to the quality of Aston Villa and the talent of Jhon Duran. The goal of the match was undoubtedly Duran’s, a strike that will surely be in the running for goal of the season. Duran, who is still relatively young, has the potential to be a star in the Premier League, and he has certainly put his name on the map with his performance against Everton.
