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Aston Villa are through to the Cup of Traditions final after seeing off hosts Duisburg in the tournament opener.

Andre Green opened the scoring on 22 minutes before Scott Hogan added a deadly brace soon after in the 45-minute contest.

Villa set up in a 4-4-2 formation with John Terry partnering James Chester in the heart of defence.

Jed Steer also made his first appearance for over a year and he made a fine save early on to deny Fabian Schnellhardt the opening goal.

When a team is so solid in defence it helps the attack-minded players flourish and how they benefited this afternoon.

Ahmed Elmohamady was impressive down the right on his first start in claret and blue while Green added pace and positivity on the opposite flank.

Talented youngsters Callum O’Hare and Jake Doyle-Hayes also added youth and vibrancy to the team.

Whisper it quietly, but this looked like the perfect blend of talent moulded into a starting XI.

It was O’Hare who set up Green for the opener.

Cutting in from the right he crossed for his fellow Bodymoor Heath Academy graduate who rattled in his strike off the crossbar.

It just had to hit the woodwork didn’t it. Green has been thwarted so many times in the past by either the post or the bar that he must have been cursing when his strike left his boot.

This time, though, he wasn’t to be denied.

What followed was a dominant display from top to bottom.

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And what a performance from Hogan who got his break when Elmohamady showed great purpose down the right to tee the No.9 up perfectly.

Hogan fired in another soon after.

Doyle-Hayes slipped him in down the left and he rolled his defender with ease before curling past the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.

Hopefully this is the making of him because he deserves a lucky break in claret and blue

Villa are now waiting to see their opponents in the final which kicks off at 3pm.

Hertha Berlin play Malaga next and Villa will play the winners.

Villa XI: Steer, Hutton, Chester, Terry, Taylor, Elmohamady Doyle-Hayes, Hourihane, Green, O’Hare, Hogan.