Aston Villa’s perseverance secured them vital points in their efforts to avoid relegation, with back-to-back wins in their last two matches.
A header by Anna Patten in the 30th minute put Aston Villa ahead in the first half, and Ebony Salmon’s shot doubled their advantage in the 56th minute. Spurs never lost their determination, and two strikes – one by Jess Naz in the 65th minute and one by Ella Morris in the 70th – brought them level. But it was Kirsty Hanson’s goal in the first minute of added time that reinstated Villa’s lead and won them the match.
As it happened
Aston Villa began the match confidently, putting on strong attacking pressure. But Spurs were quick to retaliate, breaking forward whenever they could. Both sides were clearly hungry but lacked the composure to threaten when shooting.
In the 30th minute, Villa’s momentum paid off. After a late challenge from Spurs’ Ashley Neville, the visitors were awarded a free kick. Lucy Staniforth sent a beautiful delivery into the box, which Rachel Daly headed against the crossbar. But Spurs failed to clear the loose ball, and Patten headed it into the back of the net from the goal line.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe second half started with an aggressive press from Tottenham, but they were still unable to capitalise. Then, against the run of play, a long ball by Staniforth was headed forwards by Daly. Salmon ran into space in the Spurs defence, outpacing the players marking her to send a right-footed strike into the bottom right of the net in the 56th minute.
The match began to turn around for Tottenham when they were awarded a corner, and a miscued clearance gave Naz the perfect opportunity to halve the deficit, which she did with a right-footed strike in the 65th minute.
Just five minutes later, after a spell of passes to keep possession, Eveliina Summanen lofted a long ball up to Morris. Villa keeper Sabrina D’Angelo came out to block Morris but missed, allowing Morris to send a right-footed strike into an empty net.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut in the first minute of added time, Chastity Grant pounced on a loose Tottenham pass and sent the ball up to 71st minute substitute Hanson, who fought off three defenders to send a left-footed strike down the centre of the goal, restoring Aston Villa’s lead.
Despite their impressive comeback, Tottenham Hotspur haven’t won any of their last eight games. As for Villa, they have managed to put more space between themselves and bottom-of-the-table side Crystal Palace.
The lineups
TOT: Kop; Morris, Rybrink, Bartrip, Neville; Summanen, Spence, Oroz; Holdt, Thomas, Naz
ASV: D’Angelo; Parker, Patten, Maritz; Grant, Staniforth, Taylor, Pacheco; Kearns; Salmon, Daly