Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - September 14, 2024 Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough
BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) -Jhon Duran scored a brilliant long-range winner as Aston Villa came from two goals down to beat Everton 3-2 in a hugely entertaining Premier League clash on Saturday.
Everton led against the run of play through goals from Dwight McNeil and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but their defensive frailties that have seen them concede 13 goals in four games this campaign returned.
Ollie Watkins scored a brace for the home side before Duran earned his side the three points with a stunning 30-yard goal 14 minutes from the end that swerved into the top corner.
Villa move up to third place in the table with nine points from their four matches, while Everton are rooted to the foot of the table having lost all four of their games.
"It takes a moment of magic like that, and Jhon has come up with it," Watkins told SkySports. "Everyone knows what he can do, and when he’s got the opportunity, he shows it. It’s one of the best (goals) we’ve seen.
"A lot of the boys are getting back up to fitness. I still don’t feel 100%. I’m disappointed I didn’t get the hat-trick – I should be coming off with the match ball – but I’ll settle for the two."
It is the first time in 66 years Everton have started the league season with four defeats as they became the second club in the Premier League era to lose consecutive games when leading 2-0 following their home capitulation to Bournemouth late on last time out.
They led when McNeil stole the ball from former Everton midfielder Amadou Onana and fired a low shot into the far corner of the net.
They doubled their advantage when McNeil turned provider with a free kick that was headed into the net by Calvert-Lewin.
Villa pulled a goal back as Lucas Digne dinked a cross to the back post that was headed in by Watkins for a first league goal since April.
The home side were level when Jack Harrison could only divert a long ball straight into the path of Watkins and the striker easily beat Pickford with a composed finish.
The winner came in spectacular fashion as Duran unleashed a swerving shot from 30-yards that flew into the back of the net, but Everton might have equalised when Calvert-Lewin crashed a shot against the crossbar.
"We’re certainly taking some knocks at the minute. Every mistake seems to be a goal, and every chance we don't quite capitalise on," Everton manager Sean Dyche said.
"Unfortunately we were on the wrong side of the margins again. It’s a tough one to take, for different reasons than the last game."
(Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Louise Heavens)
