Fixtures
- Aston Villa Women Vs. Crystal Palace Women – Wed, Oct 2nd 2024, 19:15
Aston Villa kicked-off their 2024/25 League Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over fellow Women’s Super League opposition Crystal Palace at the Bescot Stadium this evening.
Two well taken goals from Kirsty Hanson and Katie Robinson late on sealed the three points and sent Villa top of Group E.
Robert de Pauw made nine changes to his team that was last in action on Sunday as he handed Brazil international Gabi Nunes her Villa debut.
Villa dominated proceedings from the starting whistle and had their first real chance on goal on the game’s eighth minute. Anna Patten floated a well-weighted ball down the right and into the path of Robinson who took a touch before whipping a dangerous cross into the area, but Ebony Salmon could only put her shot wide of the post.
Salmon was involved again five minutes later but this time her effort crashed against the post after hitting another cross from Robinson towards goal.
Robinson was up next to hit the woodwork as she agonisingly saw a rocket of an effort thunder against the post on the 22nd minute.
A short pass from Robinson found Nunes inside the box seven minutes later but the forward was unable to arrange her feet to get a shot off and the clearance was made. But the ball fell kindly to Miri Taylor who swung a strong effort back towards goal from 25 yards out, which Adriana Leon read well and stuck her foot out to flick it past an already diving Milla-Maj Majasaari but the ‘keeper did well to still make the save.
Robinson continued to be a constant threat in the game and another one of her crosses caused danger inside the Palace box, but this one was put over the goal by Leon just before the break.
Crystal Palace tested Sabrina D’Angelo in goal on the stroke of half-time as Annabel Blanchard found Poppy Pritchard at the back post with a cross, but D’Angelo was on hand to collect.
Kenza Dali was introduced at half-time and she instantly got in on the action as she carried the ball through the final third before lifting a shot on target but Majasaari made the save.
Villa continued their push for the opener and Anna Patten tried to help the team get it on the 61st minute as she got up in the box to feed a pass into Dali but the France international’s effort was again caught.
De Pauw’s team finally got the opening goal they had been relentlessly pushing for on the 80th minute from substitute Hanson. The forward wrestled Molly-Mae Sharpe off the ball inside the Palace half, rounded the ‘keeper inside the box before coolly firing it over the line.
Robinson’s persistence paid off deep into stoppage time as she bagged the goal she deserved. The pacey winger received the ball just inside the Palace half and charged with it into the box before slotting it over Majasaari to bag her first goal as a Villan and to seal the win.
