Manchester City made it two wins from two in the Women’s Super League with a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa in front of 3,079 at Villa Park, completing a winning double in Birmingham.
Villa pushed the champions at times, particularly in the second half, but City’s quality ultimately proved decisive. It was also a historic night for Lauren Hemp, who became just the seventh player in WSL history to reach 100 goal contributions, with 52 goals and 48 assists.
A lively atmosphere greeted the players at Villa Park, with the home crowd already electric before kick-off as a little girl shouted, “Come on Villa!” City started brightly, with Aoba Fujino, fresh from signing a new contract, involved early on.
City immediately looked dangerous down the left, as Lauren Hemp raced forward and delivered a cross towards Khadija Shaw, only for Mathilde Harviken to get there first and head the ball clear for a corner. The set-piece was taken short, but Aston Villa dealt with the danger.
The hosts then had their first glimpse of an attack when Noelle Maritz sent a long ball forward for Chastity Grant, although City goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita raced off her line to collect it.
Shaw then had City’s first real chance, receiving the ball from Fujino inside the box, but Anna Patten threw herself in the way of the shot.
City eventually broke the deadlock in the 13th minute. Kerstin Casparij’s corner caused confusion in the Villa penalty area, with the ball looping high after taking a touch off a defender. Villa goalkeeper Akane Okuma reached for it but could only palm the ball down into the path of Jade Rose, who calmly finished to give the visitors the lead.
City dominated possession, holding around 64% of the ball, and their combinations down the left were particularly effective, with Carlotta Wamser linking impressively with Hemp on her first WSL start.
The pressure told again in the 29th minute when Mary Fowler doubled City’s advantage. Fowler exchanged a neat one-two with Shaw on the edge of the box before calmly striking into the bottom corner.
Villa looked increasingly nervous, with Lynn Wilms conceding a cheap corner and the hosts struggling to create clear openings. However, just when City appeared completely in control, Villa produced a response.
Chastity Grant burst past Greenwood on the right and cut the ball back towards Mia McAulay, before collecting it again on the byline and firing a dangerous ball across goal. Amalie Vangsgaard stretched to meet it and finished on the stretch, scoring on her home debut and cutting the deficit to 2-1.
The late goal transformed the mood inside Villa Park, but City still threatened. Hemp saw an effort deflected behind before Greenwood headed wide from the resulting corner.
That proved to be the final action of an entertaining and rain-soaked opening 45 minutes.
Half-time: Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester City
Villa started the second half with renewed energy, backed by a roaring home crowd, but Hemp remained a constant threat. She twice found Shaw with dangerous crosses, although the striker was unable to convert either.
Villa responded through McAulay, whose effort from the edge of the box went straight at Yamashita, before Grant skipped past two City players only to see her shot blocked.
City came close to a third when Hemp narrowly missed before Shaw powered a header against the crossbar. Okuma then produced a superb save to deny Hemp after the winger headed Wamser’s cross towards goal. The Villa goalkeeper also punched away a dangerous Greenwood free-kick.
The atmosphere remained intense, with a booming drum adding to the noise as Villa pushed for a goal. Noelle Maritz tested Yamashita with a powerful strike, but City finally found their third in the 73rd minute.
A stray pass from Lucia Kendall gifted possession to Hemp, who drove forward before finding Shaw. This time, the Jamaica international made no mistake, calmly lifting the ball over Okuma to make it 3-1.
Villa made a triple substitution in response, while City remained dangerous. Fowler produced a spectacular strike towards the top corner, but Okuma again came to Villa’s rescue.
There was then a special moment for Villa as 16-year-old Katie Scott came on for her senior debut, replacing goalscorer Vangsgaard.
Substitute Miri Taylor later tested Yamashita from distance, but the City goalkeeper held firm.
City sealed the victory in the 90th minute. Beth Mead sent a long ball forward for Hemp, whose shot took a deflection off Harviken and found the net to make it 4-1.
The final whistle confirmed a convincing victory for the defending champions. Villa had pushed City hard, particularly in the second half, while Okuma’s saves kept the hosts in the contest for long spells.
But City’s quality ultimately told as they made it two wins from two to begin their WSL campaign and moved to the top of the table.
Aston Villa (4-4-1-1): Okuma, Harviken, Patten, Kielland (Taylor 75’), Wilms, Parker, Maritz, Grant (Mullet 75’), Vangsgaard (Scott 83’), Kendall (Hijikata 75’), McAulay (Deslandes 63’).
Unused subs: Kelly
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Yamashita, Casparij (Beney 63’), Rose, Greenwood, Wamser, Blindkilde Brown (Coffey 63’), Hasegawa, Fowler (Clinton 83’), Fujino (Mead 62’), Hemp, Shaw.
Unused subs: Cumings, Wienroither, Prior, Davies, Burdon.
