Aston Villa pulled off a thrilling comeback to defeat Everton 3-2 at Villa Park, with Jhon Duran spectacular strike and Ollie Watkins’ double stealing the show. Everton initially took control, going two goals up courtesy of Dwight McNeil and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. However, the visitors couldn’t hold on, marking the second consecutive match where they squandered a two-goal lead.
The game started with Villa asserting early dominance, but a mistake from Amadou Onana gifted Everton their first goal. Onana lost possession to his former teammate, McNeil, who capitalized by firing the ball into the bottom corner of Emiliano Martinez’s net. This sudden setback stunned the Villa fans and gave Everton a crucial early advantage. Their lead soon doubled when McNeil’s expertly delivered free-kick from the right wing found the head of Calvert-Lewin, who made no mistake from close range. With Villa’s goalkeeper Martinez out of position, Everton looked poised to take full control and redeem themselves after their previous meltdown against Bournemouth.
Despite Everton’s strong start, the tide quickly turned. Villa pulled one back before halftime through Watkins, whose effort revived hopes of a comeback. Early in the second half, Calvert-Lewin had a golden opportunity to extend Everton’s lead when he found himself one-on-one with Martinez. However, he squandered the chance, and Everton paid the price. Shortly afterward, Villa equalized when Jack Harrison, under pressure, inadvertently directed the ball into Watkins’ path, who made no mistake and scored his second of the night.
The momentum swung entirely in Villa’s favor when substitute Jhon Duran made his mark with a remarkable long-range strike, putting Villa ahead. Duran’s goal was a reminder of his immense potential, with Villa’s goalkeeper Martinez later describing it as an “unstoppable” shot. Martinez added praise for Duran’s development, noting that if the young striker could maintain consistency, he could become one of the best in the world. However, the challenge remains for manager Unai Emery to balance Duran’s playing time with that of Ollie Watkins, given Watkins’ importance to the team and his own two-goal performance in this match.
Jhon Duran Wonder Goal Seals Aston Villa’s Dramatic Win Over Everto
As the match approached its conclusion, Everton nearly snatched a late equalizer when Calvert-Lewin’s powerful shot struck the underside of the bar. Despite that late scare, Villa held on to secure the victory. Duran’s presence on the pitch alongside Watkins offered a glimpse into what could be a potent partnership for the future, though much of the focus remains on whether Emery can successfully integrate both players into his tactical setup. Duran had been linked with a move away from Villa in the summer, but this performance, combined with his strike rate of eight Premier League goals—scored at a rate of one every 86 minutes—underscored his value to the squad.
Watkins, speaking after the match, expressed some frustration that he hadn’t completed a hat-trick, noting he wasn’t yet at full fitness after a break during the international window. However, he was pleased with the team’s overall performance, particularly after a frustrating loss to Arsenal in the previous game. Now, Watkins and his teammates turn their focus to the Champions League, a competition they are eager to embrace.
Emery also spoke about Duran’s immense potential and acknowledged that while his team’s structure is demanding, they need the individual brilliance of players like Jhon Duran Wonder Goal Seals Aston Villa’s Dramatic Win Over Everto and Watkins to make a difference in tight matches. Emery hinted at the possibility of playing both strikers together more often, stating that he views it not as a problem but as a solution for Villa moving forward.