Aston Villa claim first league win of the season against Crystal Palace | OneFootball

Aston Villa picked up their first Barclays Women’s Super League win of the season after defeating Crystal Palace 3-2 at Villa Park this afternoon.

While the rain pelted down in the Midlands, there was no raining on Aston Villa’s parade as they finally celebrated their first league victory of the season thanks to Ebony Salmon’s late winning goal.

Both teams went close to opening their goal accounts for the afternoon in the first five minutes. Aston Villa’s Jordan Nobbs sent a shot just wide before Crystal Palace were able to attack on the counter, leading Mille Gejl into a one-v-one situation with Sabrina D’Angelo. The Aston Villa keeper came out on top, pulling off a brilliant save to deny the visitors.

It took half an hour for the deadlock to be broken and the goal came against the run of play. My Cato capitalised for Crystal Palace at the end of a lovely passage of play.

The Eagles’ lead didn’t last long. Just 10 minutes later, Villa Park erupted as Aston Villa defender Anna Patten found the back of the net.

Following the equalising goal, the confidence and momentum shifted and the home side looked hungry for the win. In first half stoppage time, Robert de Pauw’s side took the lead through captain Rachel Daly who netted her fourth goal of the season.

Early in the second half, The Villans almost found the back of the net again but Daly slipped just as she was planting her feet in the turf. The home side continued their dominance and Gabi Nunes was soon presented with an excellent chance to score. Daly collided with visiting keeper Shae Yáñez, leaving the Crystal Palace goal wide open, but Nunes sent the ball flying over the crossbar.

Aston Villa were carving out chance after chance but struggled to find an all-important third goal. Their failure to find the back of the net again meant that Crystal Palace were still very much in the game, albeit they looked the more fatigued of the two sides.

With four minutes to go, The Eagles got themselves back level. Substitute Ashleigh Weerden sent a lovely ball into the box for Annabel Blanchard to convert.

The game looked set to end in a draw, however, in the fourth and final minute of added time, Salmon produced some incredible footwork and a clinical finish to seal a 3-2 victory for Aston Villa.

Both sides are in action in the Women’s League Cup next weekend. Aston Villa travel to Tottenham Hotspur while Crystal Palace play host to Charlton Athletic.