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Emiliano Buendia scored his first goal since March 2023 and Jhon Duran got his fifth of the season as Aston Villa reached the fourth round of the Carabao Cup after a 2-1 win at Wycombe.

Winger Buendia, who missed all of last season through injury, headed the first goal before Duran converted a last-minute penalty to beat League One Wanderers, who scored a final consolation goal through Richard Kone.

Villa may face mighty Bayern Munich in the Champions League next week, but they faced a difficult trip to leafy Buckinghamshire to face a side renowned for their cup successes, including reaching the semi-finals of the competition in 2007.

Their manager, Matt Bloomfield, played against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in that two-legged tie. The Wanderers drew at home before losing 4-0 at Stamford Bridge.

However, Villa head coach Unai Emery made ten changes to the team that played in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Wolves, with midfielder Amadou Onana the only one remaining.

Duran, who has scored in four of his five Premier League substitute appearances this season, almost scored in the first 60 seconds of his first appearance of the season. The Colombian ran after a perfectly weighted pass from Leon Bailey but his shot went wide with the inside of his foot.

The Wanderers also appeared lively in attack in the early stages, and Beryly Lubala and Kieran Sadlier forced Villa’s debutant goalkeeper Joe Gauci to make early saves.

Another player making his first appearance for Villa, 18-year-old winger Kadan Young, was looking to make an impression and a lightning shot down the left forced Wycombe keeper Franco Ravizzoli into a brilliant save.

Ross Barkley, the oldest player in Villa’s youthful starting line-up at three years old, was active in midfield, probing and almost setting up Kosta Nedeljkovic, but the young Serbian, making his first-team debut, shot straight at Ravizzoli.

Duran then shot the ball high into the stands behind Ravizzoli’s goal and the Wanderers made it to halftime unscathed.

However, a breakthrough came ten minutes into the second half when Young, cheered on by Emery in the dugout, outran his marker and reached the byline. Young’s cross deflected into the air and Buendia was able to adjust and direct an arcing header over Ravizzoli into the far corner.

A year, six months and six days had passed since his last goal for Villa and all of his delighted teammates congratulated the Argentine.

Wycombe were close to equalising when Gauci made an excellent save to block a Garath McCleary header.

But Villa doubled their lead when Declan Skura ran around Duran and the striker converted the penalty five minutes from time.

Things also went well for the Premier League team after Kone broke through in injury time and reduced the deficit with the last shot of the game.