Jhon Duran has reportedly been a West Ham target all summer, but the young forward was on target against the Irons in Aston Villa’s 2-1 win in London on Saturday.
The Villans led through Amadou Onana’s early goal but found themselves level at the break when Lucas Paqueta converted a Tomas Soucek-won penalty.
Both teams chased a winner, but it was Duran who helped build-up what would become his match-winning goal. That showed West Ham what it’s been missing, though the Hammers know as they’ve been after Duran all summer.
It was an intriguing 90 minutes between two teams with new faces and big goals: Villa to do well in and return to the Champions League, and West Ham to find their way back to Europe.
West Ham vs Aston Villa Match Summary
It’s a Villa sub — and a West Ham transfer target — who puts the visitors back on top. Jhon Duran is a big part of the build-up and of course the finish, drilling a shot between the legs of Alphonse Areola. West Ham’s subs nearly deliver a second equalizer, as Summerville’s cross is nearly put home by Fullkrug only to be foiled by Emiliano Martinez.
West Ham vs Aston Villa: How to Watch
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET, Saturday (August 17) Venue: London Stadium TV channel: NBC Streaming: Watch via NBC.com
West Ham vs Aston Villa: How the Game Unfolded
What a start. Youri Tielemans sweeps a corner into the mix and Amadou Onana, on debut after his summer move from Everton, thuds home via header. It’s five minutes into the game and Villa lead at West Ham!
Matty Cash has taken down Tomas Soucek in the box, and West Ham are going to the spot. Lucas Paqueta’s penalty is nearly perfect, and it’s 1-1 in London.
Player Ratings and Key Subs
West Ham vs Aston Villa player ratings (from fotmob.com)
West Ham
Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Soucek, Rodriguez, Paqueta, Kudus, Bowen, Antonio
Aston Villa
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Tielemans, McGinn, Onana, Rogers, Bailey, Watkins
West Ham’s subs nearly deliver a second equalizer, as Summerville’s cross is nearly put home by Fullkrug only to be foiled by Emiliano Martinez. James Ward-Prowse, Niclas Fullkrug, and Crysencio Summerville are on for Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham, and exiting are Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio, and goal scorer Lucas Paqueta. Jacob Ramsey and West Ham target Jhon Duran were Villa’s early subs, while Ian Maatsen and Jaden Philogene-Bidace appear soon after West Ham’s triple swap.
The Match in Numbers
Aston Villa has definitely been the better side, despite West Ham holding onto more than half of the ball (The David Moyes era is very much over, for better or worse, on that stat alone!). Villa leads in shot attempts (8-5) and xG (1.11-1.00) but are level after 45 minutes thanks to the West Ham penalty. To be decided in the second!
Why the Game Was Important
West Ham are new to the Julen Lopetegui experience, in direct contrast to the the visitors’ comfort with what their boss wants from them. Leon Bailey is electric as he cuts inside after beating Areola, but it’s only the post that meets the Jamaica’s bid to make it 2-0. It feels like West Ham have a bit of a momentum ahead of this game and could pull off a bit of an upset to underline where they’re heading under Lopetegui. He’ll get the better of his countryman Emery. West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa.
Pre-Match Analysis
The Hammers have strengthened superbly this summer and even with Edson Alvarez missing through injury they have a very strong squad. It will be intriguing to see how they line up in attack but it seems like Kudus and Bowen will be on the wings with Paqueta in No. 10 role and Fullkrug up top lurking to finish chances. The back four looks solid with Kilman and Wan-Bissaka coming in and so far West Ham have ‘won’ the summer transfer window quite comfortably.
OUT: Edson Alvarez (thigh)
Losing Douglas Luiz was a real blow but some savvy signings have been made with Ross Barkley, Ian Maatsen and Amadou Onana and Jaden Philogene returning to Villa as his buy-back clause was activated. They have been chasing some big names, such as Joao Felix, but this summer has been a little frustrating for Villa as they look to kick on and make a splash in the Champions League. Still, you know exactly what you’re going to get from this team and they will be dangerous and ruthless on the counter.
OUT: Boubacar Kamara (knee), Tyrone Mings (knee)
There are questions as to how long Michail Antonio can keep up his battering ram style, but Niclas Fullkrug is on the bench. So is Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka amongst others. Julen Lopetegui shouldn’t need excuses. Villa looks so good, too, though. Their bench includes Jhon Duran, Ross Barkley, Diego Carlos, and returning Emi Buendia. Should be a beauty!
West Ham vs Aston Villa: Match Report
In a game of missed chances, Aston Villa emerged victorious in a 2-1 defeat of West Ham at the London Stadium. Lopetegui’s first match at the helm for the hosts did not get off to the best of starts as Villa debutant Onana headed home after four minutes to give the visitors an early lead. West Ham had put themselves firmly back in the contest just before half-time as Paqueta converted from the spot in the 37th minute. They could not keep the scores level, though, as Duran continued his fine form as a substitute, scoring the winner in the 79th minute. Five of his six Premier League goals have come as a substitute. It could have been more for Villa with Bailey and Maatsen both missing opportunities to score, though their output reflected a total xG of 1.89. West Ham, on the other hand, saw their expected goals sore with Soucek’s missed chances at the end, finishing on a total of 2.4xG. While expected goals suggest otherwise, Villa looked the better of the sides and took a deserved win away from home.
West Ham vs Aston Villa: Live Commentary
19:43
In a game of missed chances, Aston Villa emerged victorious in a 2-1 defeat of West Ham at the London Stadium. Lopetegui’s first match at the helm for the hosts did not get off to the best of starts as Villa debutant Onana headed home after four minutes to give the visitors an early lead. West Ham had put themselves firmly back in the contest just before half-time as Paqueta converted from the spot in the 37th minute. They could not keep the scores level, though, as Duran continued his fine form as a substitute, scoring the winner in the 79th minute. Five of his six Premier League goals have come as a substitute. It could have been more for Villa with Bailey and Maatsen both missing opportunities to score, though their output reflected a total xG of 1.89. West Ham, on the other hand, saw their expected goals sore with Soucek’s missed chances at the end, finishing on a total of 2.4xG. While expected goals suggest otherwise, Villa looked the better of the sides and took a deserved win away from home.
19:28
FULL-TIME: WEST HAM 1-2 ASTON VILLA
19:28
SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE EQUALISER! Kudus fires in a cross from the right and it's Soucek under it. His initial header goes straight into the air before it falls down to him almost on the goalline and he scuffs his shot over the bar with a flailing leg. His head is in his hands knowing that should have levelled it.
19:27
VILLA ALMOST HAVE A THIRD! Maatsen causes problems on the left once more for West Ham before finding Philogene on the overlap at the back post. He fires the ball back across goal but there is no one there to finish it off. Should he have shot himself?
19:24
West Ham are getting forward! A zipped cross off the right finds Summerville at the far post who controls the ball before trying to shoot. He does win the corner which Ward-Prowse delivers but Martinez does just enough to tip away.
19:21
Seven minutes of added time left for West Ham to equalise.
19:20
Philogene is not having the best of debuts as he looks nervy in the Villa defence. His latest blunder sees him enter the book for a foul on Summerville.
19:20
Nervy moments for Villa as they try to defend their lead. Ings gets the cross in off the right which is hit just past Summerville. It falls instead to Philogene, who scuffs it towards his own goal and sends Martinez scrambling to tidy up.
19:18
CLOSE FOR INGS! Summerville escapes down the right and manages to put in the cross at the byline. It takes a slight deflection but Ings gets his head to hit and flicks goalwards. The shot proves a stretch for Martinez but he manages to catch and avert the danger.
19:16
Lopetegui has made his move in his first game in charge as he shifts his team to playing three at the back with Ings entering the field as a second striker.
19:14
A near-identical move to the goal sees Villa in behind once more. Maatsen finds himself behind the West Ham defence to the left of the box and this time takes the shot himself it is blocked well by Kilman before a scrap in the box, which Areola eventually gathers to his chest.
19:14
Substitution Vladimír Coufal Jean-Clair Dimitri Roger Todibo
19:14
Substitution Guido Rodríguez Daniel William John Ings
19:13
Nedeljkovic enters the field as Villa's 1000th player, another to make his debut today. He replaces Cash who had been down receiving treatment.
19:09
Assist Jacob Matthew Ramsey
19:08
Goal Jhon Jader Durán Palacio
19:07
Mavropanos rifles a shot goalwards from 30 yards out in search of the winner for West Ham. It ricochets off a Villa defender in the box before a West Ham cross is seen out for a corner. Ward-Prowse delivers the set-piece well but Villa do enough to clear.
19:04
Substitution Lucas Digne Ian Ethan Maatsen
19:04
Substitution Leon Patrick Bailey Butler Jaden Richard Philogene-Bidace
19:03
Antonio has struggled to make his mark on the game and is hauled off for his potential replacement Fullkrug to make his debut off the bench.
19:03
Substitution Lucas Tolentino Coelho de Lima James Michael Edward Ward-Prowse
19:03
Villa appear happy to bide their time in possession and wait for an opening. Bailey thinks he's found one and crosses from the right, resulting in a corner. This time Areola does come out to punch clear.
19:00
Antonio appears to be played in over the top but Martinez does well to get out of his box quickly to sweep up and make the chance look suddenly far less exciting.
18:58
Excitement on the West Ham bench as new signings Somerville and Fullkrug appear to be preparing to come on.
18:57
RAMSEY WAS FREE! Digne plays a lovely ball to see Duran in behind the West Ham defence on the left. He follows the ball into the box where Ramsey is also making a run on the right but opts to shoot himself and fires straight into the side-netting. Could that have been the chance for Villa?
18:54
Chance for Antonio! Bowen floats in a looping cross off the right side of the pitch aiming for Antonio at the far post. The striker tries to get under it but only manages to direct his header over the ball.
18:52
Kudus cuts inside off the left wing with his first touch before bursting into the box. His shot, however, lets him down with a scuffed effort wide of the near post.
18:51
Substitution John McGinn Jacob Matthew Ramsey
18:51
Substitution Oliver George Arthur Watkins Jhon Jader Durán Palacio
18:51
Those opportunities have seen Aston Villa increase their expected goals to 1.41, moving clear of West Ham's total of 1.19. The scores, however, remain level.
18:48
HOW DID THEY KEEP THAT OUT?! Rogers is once more instigating the counter-attack for Villa. He lays it off for Tielemans to have a free shot in the box, but that is saved. Rogers has his own opportunity from the rebound, but Areola scrambles across his goal to block that attempt, too. The visitors should have done better with those opportunities!
18:45
Kudus is proving a persistent threat down the left and this time wins a corner after firing his cross off Cash. The initial cross from the corner is cleared and falls to Rodriguez who powers it well over the ball.
18:44
West Ham break from the turnover at the back, and Kudus have the opportunity to cross off the left, this time from outside the box. The Villa defence head it straight towards their own goal but Martinez catches with ease.
18:43
Bailey almost finds his way into the box! The winger picks it up on the right before spotting space between two West Ham defenders. He surges forward towards it and almost looks to have broken through but loses the physical battle and falls to the floor.
18:40
Kudus finds Soucek at the far post from the left of the box with a lovely dinked cross over the defenders. Soucek fires his first shot straight at the defender before slicing the rebound over. A much more promising start to the second half from West Ham.
18:38
Back underway yet again after that stoppage for injury. Bailey is tentatively back on his feet but still hobbling.
18:38
Bailey is down in some pain at the moment. Looks like he was caught by Paqueta as he tried to cut the ball inside off the wing.
18:35
And we're back underway!
18:34
The teams are back out for the second half of action at the London Stadium.
18:28
Despite Aston Villa appearing on top in the first half of this Premier League opening weekend clash, the teams go in level at 1-1 at half-time at London Stadium. Villa took the lead early on through Onana’s debut goal in the 4th minute and continued to dominate with Bailey missing the pick of the chances, hitting the post after rounding Areola. West Ham, however, lessened the frustrations of new manager Lopetegui as Soucek won a penalty which Paqueta converted in the 37th minute. It means the teams enter the break with fairly similar expected goal totals, Villa on 1.11xG and West Ham on 1.00. While Villa looked the better team, history would say they could struggle to finish with three points as West Ham are unbeaten in the last seven Premier League games they've been level at half time.
18:20
HALF-TIME: WEST HAM 1-1 ASTON VILLA
18:20
Both teams are getting forward but tiredness is showing with lacking end product at both ends in the closing stages of this first-half.
18:19
Emery is certainly winning the battle of the Spaniards on the sidelines. Aston Villa currently boast an expected goals total of 0.85 just 24 minutes into the first-half. Lopetegui, however, will hope his new side pick up their attacking efforts as West Ham have just 0.13 xG in comparison.
18:17
Three minutes added time announced here.
18:17
West Ham come forward again but Villa see it clear and break themselves. It's Bailey again bringing it forward for the visitors down the right but his whipped shot curls wide of the far post.
18:14
Emerson gets a shot away for West Ham from the right of the box but Martinez gets down to palm away at the near post. It's all go for the hosts now!
18:12
Prior to the goal, West Ham had been struggling against Villa but now back on level terms they are looking far more spritely. Who else to make it happen than Paqueta who has scored all five penalties he has taken for West Ham.
18:10
DECISION STANDS! West Ham have their penalty confirmed by VAR and Paqueta will take.
18:08
Penalty Goal Lucas Tolentino Coelho de Lima
18:07
PENALTY TO WEST HAM! Soucek brings the ball down in the box from a lofted pass over the top. He is brought down by Cash who appears to trip him and Tony Harrington points straight to the spot. Now being checked by VAR...
18:04
JUST WIDE! Rogers makes yet another bursting run for Villa on the counter before passing to Bailey on his right. The winger crosses to McGinn who has two bites of the cherry and as his first shot is blocked but his second trickles just wide of the post.
18:03
More like it for West Ham. Kudus gets forward on the left and plays the cross in trying to find Kudus at the back post. The West Ham forward does enough to force a corner from the Villa defence.
18:01
Yellow Card Lucas Tolentino Coelho de Lima
18:00
Villa are camped in the West Ham half waiting for an opportunity to present itself but the hosts are struggling to get close to the ball.
17:57
Emery is certainly winning the battle of the Spaniards on the sidelines. Aston Villa currently boast an expected goals total of 0.85 just 24 minutes into the first-half. Loptegui, however, will hope his new side pick up their attacking efforts as West Ham have just 0.13xG in comparison.
17:55
HOW DID HE MISS?! BAILEY HITS THE POST! He receives the ball over the top on the right of the pitch. It's a beautiful first touch from Bailey to round Areola who is well off his line and it appears he has an open goal in front of him. The angle is tight, however, and his shot slams the outside of the post.
17:53
Rogers once more makes a threatening run down the centre before finding McGinn on his left who carries into the box. The Scotsman is able to cross but can't pick out Watkins and the ball is cleared by West Ham.
17:51
Villa remain patient in possession with the comfort of that one-goal cushion. They're edging West Ham on possession at the moment with 54%.
17:49
Another nervy moment for West Ham! Villa opt to take a quick free-kick just outside the box which sends Watkins free to the right of the box. The England forward finds himself clear of the Hammers' defence but holds onto the ball marginally too long and Areola smothers the chance at his feet.
17:45
Aston Villa are looking confident after that early goal. They are content to retain possession and be patient with their openings but they keep finding a way through. A rash lunge from Bowen allows Torres to make a run from deep and get a cross away himself but it is blocked.
17:43
SAVED! Rogers makes a powerful run through the centre of midfield with no one willing to close down the Villa midfielder. His shot is not the best and Areola does well to get down to his right and make the save.
17:41
The goal from Onana means no other Premier League side have had more debutants score than Aston Villa in Premier League history. They are joint top with Chelsea on 27.
17:39
Yellow Card Leon Patrick Bailey Butler
17:35
Assist Youri Marion A. Tielemans
17:34
Bowen surges down the right-hand side at the opposite end of the pitch and manages to find Soucek in the centre of the box. His shot, however, is wide of the near post.
17:33
Cash brings Villa forward down the right hand side and whips in a cross that Kilman is forced to clear. A positive start from the visitors!
17:33
West Ham get us underway at the London Stadium!
17:31
The teams are coming out of the tunnel at the London Stadium through the bubbles. Villa and West Ham will shortly be getting their Premier League season's underway.
17:23
For Aston Villa, Unai Emery hands a full debut to Onana who starts at the base of the midfield. Fellow new arrivals at Villa Park Barkley, Philogene and Maatsen are also all named on the bench for the clash with West Ham. Gauci and Nedeljkovic, who were both signed in January, could also make competitive debuts from the bench after spending the end of last season on loan. Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara and Robin Olsen are all ruled out with injury.
17:23
West Ham have a number of potential debutants among their ranks after a summer spending spree. Kilman and Rodriguez will both make their full debut while Summerville, Fullkrug, Todibo and Wan-Bissaka are all named on the bench for the hosts. Wan-Bissaka is deemed fit enough by Loptegui despite carrying a knock, but it is too soon for Edson Alvarez who remains out with a hamstring injury.
17:13
WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Alphonse Areola; Emerson, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman, Vladimir Coufal; Guido Rodriguez, Tomas Soucek; Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen; Michail Antonio.
17:13
WEST HAM SUBS: Lukasz Fabianksi, Aaron Cresswell, Crysencio Summerville, James Ward-Prowse, Niclas Fullkrug, Danny Ings, Jean-Clair Todibo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Andy Irving.
17:13
ASTON VILLA SUBS: Diego Carlos, Ross Barkley, Jhon Duran, Emiliano Buendia, Joe Gauci, Jaden Philogene, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Ian Maatsen, Jacob Ramsey.
17:13
ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Emiliano Martinez; Lucas Digne, Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash; Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana; John McGinn, Morgan Rogers, Leon Bailey; Ollie Watkins.
17:07
Aston Villa travel to the battle of claret and blue with a poor opening day record. They have lost their last three opening Premier League matches, conceding 10 goals in those games. Villa also fell to defeat the last time they met West Ham on the opening day, losing 1-0 at Upton Park in 2012-13. Fans will hope the renewed confidence of Champions League qualification will spur their team to better opening day form, having finished fourth last season.
17:07
West Ham fans will get their first glimpse of life under their new manager, Julien Loptegui, as he takes charge of his first match in east London. His last victory in the Premier League came against today’s opponents Aston Villa, winning 2-1 while managing Wolves (1-0 in May 2023). His club have a similarly strong record against the visitors having won their last nine home games against Villa and only losing one of their last 12 Premier League encounters, a 4-1 loss at Villa Park last season.
17:01
Hello and welcome to live text commentary of West Ham Vs Aston Villa at London Stadium on the opening weekend of Premier League action!
17:00
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
15:30
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
