Aston Villa 3-2 Everton: Jhon Duran strike adds to two from Ollie Watkins as Toffees lose two-goal lead again
Aston Villa made a remarkable comeback from being two goals behind to defeat Everton 3-2 at Villa Park, thanks to a stunning goal by substitute Jhon Duran.
Villa started the match strong, but everything changed when Amadou Onana lost possession to his ex-teammate Dwight McNeil. McNeil then scored, placing the ball in the corner of Emiliano Martinez's goal, leaving the home fans in shock.
Before too long, the score was 2-0. McNeil took a free-kick from the right side, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin managed to nod it in from just a few feet away, leaving Emiliano Martinez with no chance to react. Everton had established another two-goal advantage, giving them a chance to redeem themselves after their shocking collapse at home against Bournemouth in their previous match.
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They messed up. Villa managed to score just before halftime with a goal from Ollie Watkins. Everton had a great opportunity to take the lead when Calvert-Lewin missed a clear one-on-one chance, and they soon paid for it. Watkins equalized after Jack Harrison, while trying to reach for the ball, accidentally redirected it right to him.
Duran quickly sealed the deal with an incredible long-distance shot shortly after entering the game.
Martinez was left speechless after witnessing the play and would have been even more shocked if Calvert-Lewin's shot hadn’t struck the bottom of the crossbar just moments later.
Aston Villa: Martinez (6), Konsa (6), Bogarde (6), Pau (6), Digne (6), Tielemans (7), Onana (5), McGinn (6), Rogers (7), Ramsey (7), Watkins (8). **Aston Villa Player Ratings:** Martinez (6), Konsa (6), Bogarde (6), Pau (6), Digne (6), Tielemans (7), Onana (5), McGinn (6), Rogers (7), Ramsey (7), Watkins (8). For Aston Villa, the ratings are as follows: Martinez received a score of 6, Konsa also earned a 6, and Bogarde, Pau, and Digne each scored 6 as well. Tielemans stood out with a score of 7, while Onana had a lower rating of 5. McGinn also earned a 6, whereas Rogers and Ramsey both impressed with scores of 7. Lastly, Watkins topped the list with an excellent score of 8.
Substitutes: Barkley (7), Duran (8), Maatsen (7), Buendia (not applicable), Philogene (not applicable).
Everton: Pickford (7), Young (6), Tarkowski (6), Keane (6), Mykolenko (6), Gueye (6), Iroegbunam (6), Harrison (6), McNeil (7), Ndiaye (7), Calvert-Lewin (6).
Substitutes: Garner (6), Mangala (6), O'Brien (7), Gomes (not applicable).
Star Player: Ollie Watkins.
Duran: A Game-Changer In Action
Jhon Duran was on the verge of departing from Villa during the summer, but he proved his value once again with a remarkable goal that secured the victory for his team. Adding to the delight of Villa fans, this decisive moment came while Ollie Watkins was still playing alongside him.
A lot of attention has been on Unai Emery's ability to keep Duran satisfied by giving him the playing time he desires. This situation becomes tricky since Watkins plays a crucial role for the team, as evidenced by his two goals.
However, Duran has the ability to play a more defensive role, stepping in for Jacob Ramsey in this match. While he might not always make an impact as impressive as this, his significance to Villa is clear. He has scored eight goals in the Premier League, averaging one goal every 86 minutes.
"I witnessed it from my perspective, and I noticed the ball in motion - it was unpreventable, an incredible shot," Martinez shared with Sky Sports afterward. The Villa goalkeeper also talked about Duran's impressive potential, but he added a word of caution along with his praise.
He said, "If he can maintain that level of performance, he has the potential to be a major contender. He could become one of the finest forwards globally, but he needs to stay humble and put in the effort. He has one of England's best strikers ahead of him."
Match Hero: Ollie Watkins Shines Bright
"The transition from the Euros has been rapid. Many of the guys are working their way back to full fitness, and personally, I'm still not quite there yet," Watkins shared with Sky Sports afterward.
"I'm a bit let down that I didn't score a hat-trick – I should be leaving the field with the match ball in hand – but I can accept the two goals. I'm not fully at my best yet. I took a little time off during the international break, but I don't want to sit out too many games."
"We definitely had some bad luck in our match against Arsenal. We're really pleased with today’s victory. Now, our attention turns to the Champions League, something everyone is excited about."
Emery Praises Duran's Tremendous Potential
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery:
"I believe he has tremendous potential, and my goal is to help him reach it by offering my full support. As a result, he's becoming more confident. In fact, just today, he had opportunities to add two more goals to his tally."
"We have high expectations regarding our team's structure, but we also rely on the unique talents of each player to create special moments. While football requires a solid organization, the players themselves play a crucial role as well. We encourage them to take chances with their shots; sometimes they find the back of the net, and sometimes they don’t."
Could we see Villa fielding both Duran and Watkins together more often in the future? "This is something I'm considering. I don't see it as an issue; I see it as a solution."
Everton's Poor Start Continues
Everton continues to sit at the very bottom of the Premier League standings, marking the first time in 66 years that they have lost their opening four matches of the season. To make matters worse, the fact that Sean Dyche's team has been ahead by two goals in half of those matches only intensifies the disappointment among the club's supporters.
This comeback was easier to foresee than the last-minute excitement against Bournemouth, but that doesn’t make it any easier to accept. It always seemed like a third goal was necessary, and Calvert-Lewin had two excellent opportunities to score, but he squandered his chances in front of the net.
"Everton's beginning has been nothing short of disastrous," remarked Jamie Carragher during his co-commentary for Sky Sports. "Things need to improve fast."
Everton's Dream Of Bernabeu Ends Here
Carragher remarked, "Whenever I see Everton play, particularly in away games, they remind me of a lower league team competing in the FA Cup."
They weren’t headed to the Bernabeu; they were off to Villa Park instead. Aston Villa is a strong team, but at one point in the second half, they had the ball 75 percent of the time.
Everton lacks the confidence to take control of the ball and make successful passes.
In the first half and at the beginning of the second half, I mentioned that it was impossible for Everton to simply remain passive, continuously passing the ball back to Jordan Pickford and trying to hold on.
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Dyche: Once Again On The Wrong Side Of Margins
Everton manager Sean Dyche spoke to Sky Sports:
"We're definitely facing some challenges right now. It feels like every error we make ends up in the back of the net, and we struggle to capitalize on any opportunities that come our way."
He went on to say, "Sadly, we found ourselves on the losing end again today. It's a hard pill to swallow for reasons that differ from our last match. Our team is already short-staffed, which has made things even more difficult, without a doubt."
"We played really well in our last match. Sometimes, things just happen. Today, we slipped up, and they took advantage of it. I told the team that having a decisive edge in both ends of the field is crucial. The turning point was when we had the chance to go up 3-1. We missed that opportunity, made an error, and they scored as a result. We need to keep pushing forward."
"We're creating a lot of good opportunities. Right now, our focus needs to be on converting enough of those chances to secure a victory. This has been a struggle for me since I joined the team. We really need to stop conceding so many goals."
