[Source: Reuters]

Amadou Onana scored four minutes into his Aston Villa debut and Jhon Duran netted a 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 Paqueta 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 Tomas 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 center of the area through Areola’s legs 11 minutes from time.

Onana matched Kevin Phillips (2005) to become the joint earliest goalscorer for Villa on their league debut.

Villa had a couple of excellent chances to double their lead earlier, first when Leon Bailey had Areola beaten before hitting the post from a tight angle and John McGinn’s shot rolled just wide.

But Paqueta equalized soon after from the spot, the Brazilian beating keeper Emi Martinez with a stop-start run-up before calmly side-footing the ball into the bottom left corner.

After Duran’s late goal, West Ham were close to equalizing again seconds before the final whistle, but Soucek’s header was cleared off the line by Ezri Konsa.

Emery’s Villa are riding high, competing in the Champions League this season for the first time in 41 years after finishing fourth in the Premier League.

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.