Share
Aston Villa secured a vital three points in the Women’s Super League this afternoon as they came from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 at St Helens Stadium.
A second-half penalty kick from Marie Höbinger put the Reds ahead but substitute Kirsty Hanson came on and made an instant impact as she levelled the scoring in the 68th minute with a terrific effort.
The Villans kept piling on the pressure and eventually got their long-awaited reward as Ebony Salmon forced an own goal from Jenna Clark in the 87th minute to seal the side’s first league win of the calendar year.
Natalia Arroyo made five changes to her side that suffered a 4-0 defeat against Manchester United last weekend as she brought Noelle Maritz, Maz Pacheco, Miri Taylor, Lucy Staniforth and Salmon back into her starting 11.
Villa started the contest on the right foot and quickly began to control the tempo of the game.
Lucy Parker charged down the right-hand side and into the final third with the ball before cutting it back inside to Rachel Daly who saw an opening of space and drilled a shot along the box and towards goal but Rachael Laws got down to smother it.
Daly flicked the ball into Salmon’s path in the 24th minute who took a touch before blasting a strong shot just over the target.
Sabrina D’Angelo was called into action seven minutes later as Sophie Roman Haug rose high to meet a free-kick at the back post but the Villa number one got up to palm the dangerous ball away.
Chasity Granted thread the ball through to Salmon on the stroke of half-time who found some space before fizzing a cross into the six-yard box searching for Daly but the striker’s effort sailed over.
GW026125.jpg
Villa’s positive first-half came undone 10 minutes after the restart as Liverpool were awarded a spot kick as D’Angelo brought down Ceri Holland inside the box after the forward pounced on a Villa mistake at the back and broke forward.
Höbinger stepped up and calmly rolled her spot kick into the bottom left-hand corner of goal.
Hanson was introduced to the game in the 65th minute and it only took her three minutes to find the leveller.
Missy Bo Kearns floated a superb high ball from her own half, over the Liverpool defence and into Hanson’s path who charged down on goal, rounded the keeper and brilliantly smashed the ball home from a tight angle.
GW010491.jpg
Grant whipped a teasing cross into the area in the 78th minute that eventually fell to Paula Tomàs, the left-back rolled the ball back across to Salmon but her first time shot was saved by Laws.
Villa continued to push Liverpool until the final minute and got their reward in the 87th minute as they sealed the massive win and three points.
Salmon picked up the ball inside the home side’s half and glided towards the byline, skipping past four red shirts on her way, before hitting a low cross into the six-yard box that was fortunately turned home by Clark.
39002926_GW011037.jpg