Aston Villa put relegation-battling Leicester City to the sword on Women’s Football Weekend, prevailing 5-0 of their WSL conflict on Sunday.
The Foxes noticed loads of the ball when the sport was tight at Villa Park however have been unable to make their possibilities rely as Carla Ward’s aspect continued their fantastic season, additional cementing their place in fifth place.
The hosts threatened to take the lead with simply over 90 seconds on the clock, with Kirsty Hanson slipping in Rachel Daly, however the ahead may solely discover the side-netting from a decent angle.
Straight down the opposite finish, an unmarked Sophie Howard practically nodded Leicester right into a shock lead from a nook, however her free header on the stretch went broad.
Sophie Tierney then had an effort cleared off the road within the moments that adopted earlier than Aileen Whelan thought she had damaged the impasse for the guests, however the referee’s whistle was blown for a foul within the scramble which preceded her strike.
Villa took benefit of this early chaos and took the lead after six minutes. Kenza Dali roamed ahead from midfield having taken the ball off of Daly and located the underside nook from 20 yards.
DALI JUST WOW! 🌟@KenzaDali is unstoppable proper now! 🔥#WomensFootballWeekend @AVWFCOfficial pic.twitter.com/0W8lB4RcNn
— Barclays Women’s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) March 26, 2023
Despite falling behind and sitting backside of the desk, Leicester nonetheless endeavoured to take the sport to their high-flying hosts. Ashleigh Plumptre notably roamed ahead and fired straight at Hannah Hampton following an honest spell of possession and urgent from the Foxes.
But regardless of that stress, Villa added a second simply after the half-hour mark in opposition to the run of play. Dali once more drove on the Leicester defence and handed to Hanson to cross, with Alisha Lehmann coming inside and directing the ball previous Janina Leitzig on the far submit.
From the ensuing kick-off, Villa gained again possession and went near scoring a 3rd. A ricochet allowed Dali to sneak in behind a sleeping Leicester backline, together with her volley skimming the crossbar on the way in which over.
On the stroke of half-time Daly made it three for Villa, robbing Howard of possession and calmly rolling the ball into the online.
Rachel Daly scores objectives.
The @AVWFCOfficial striker is unstoppable in entrance of aim! 🔥#WomensFootballWeekend @RachelDaly3 pic.twitter.com/A0DjaFVQKF
— Barclays Women’s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) March 26, 2023
After the break, Lehmann broke down the suitable and picked out Daly with a wonderfully timed low cross, with the England worldwide ending from shut vary.
Villa’s fifth got here on the finish of an outstanding sweeping transfer. Daly dropped deep and located the run of Mayumi Pacheco, who was in a position to put the ball on a plate for Lehmann to faucet in.
Substitute Molly Pike went near grabbing a comfort for Leicester with the clock ticking down, however dragged a shot from the sting of the field broad.
Ruby Mace then tried an audacious dink from 30 yards however the ball landed on prime of the online and Hampton’s clear sheet remained in tact.
Villa have been denied a sixth when Leitzig pushed away a header from Georgia Mullet in stoppage time and the hosts needed to accept simply the 5 objectives.
Leicester stay rooted to the foot of the WSL desk, whereas Villa moved to inside six factors of title-chasing Arsenal.
GK: Hannah Hampton – 5/10 – Had just a few bushy moments attempting to say crosses and clear the ball, getting the rub of the inexperienced on these events.
RB: Evie Rabjohn – 7/10 – The 17-year-old had fairly a process attempting to silence Leicester’s busy assault however she did her job nicely.
CB: Danielle Turner – 7/10 – Had quite a bit on her plate early doorways however managed to outlive.
CB: Anna Patten – 7/10 – Similarly needed to stand up to loads of early stress.
LB: Mayumi Pacheco – 8/10 – Was in a position to virtually singlehandedly play by way of Leicester’s press.
CM: Lucy Staniforth – 7/10 – After a difficult opening managed to stamp her authority in midfield.
CM: Kenza Dali – 10/10 – Superb. Drove ahead at will and Leicester have been unable to cease her. Opening aim fully modified the sport.
CM: Jordan Nobbs – 8/10 – Whenever on the ball, Nobbs at all times managed to search out herself in open house.
RW: Alisha Lehmann – 9/10 – Played on the fringes early on however may odor blood as Leicester crumbled, changing into an increasing number of concerned as the sport continued.
CF: Rachel Daly – 10/10 – A really full efficiency from one of many signings of the season. Incredible.
LW: Kirsty Hanson – 8/10 – Stretched play together with her tempo and the next deliveries have been often wonderful.
Substitutes
Freya Gregory (60′ for Hanson) – 6/10
Laura Blindkilde (60′ for Staniforth) – 6/10
Georgia Mullett (85′ for Dali) – N/A
Alice Keitley (90′ for Lehmann) – N/A
Manager
Carla Ward – 9/10 – Villa withstood Leicester’s press and loved a memorable day.
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GK: Janina Leitzig – 5/10 – Hard to place the blame at her door for the objectives. Suffered a nasty shoulder harm halfway by way of the second half however soldiered on.
RB: CJ Bott – 4/10 – After an aggressive opening needed to retreat when Villa’s attacking high quality took maintain.
CB: Sophie Howard – 3/10 – Spurned an excellent likelihood to interrupt the impasse earlier than gifting the opposition a aim. Not nice.
CB: Ashleigh Plumptre – 4/10 – Always made herself out there for the ball and received ahead in tandem with Nevin. Unfortunately this left Leicester somewhat open when chasing the sport they usually have been punished.
LB: Courtney Nevin – 4/10 – Lulled right into a false sense of safety by Lehmann’s sluggish and sloppy begin, ultimately chasing the Swiss’ shadow.
CM: Samantha Tierney – 4/10 – Enthusiastic together with her urgent and sometimes discovered herself as the very best participant up the pitch.
CM: Ruby Mace – 4/10 – Technically good in her personal proper however Leicester have been ultimately punished for attempting to go toe-to-toe with a far superior aspect.
RM: Aileen Whelan – 5/10 – Leicester’s interchanging frontline brought about Villa issues, however they finally lacked penetration – Whelan’s early disallowed aim was the closest they got here.
AM: Carrie Jones – 5/10 – Had some shiny concepts when in possession however could not carve out a transparent opening.
LM: Josie Green – 4/10 – Tucked inside from the left however to little avail as soon as Villa had raced away with the sport.
CF: Hannah Cain – 4/10 – Dropped deep and into the channels when Leicester thought they have been within the ascendancy, however later discovered herself remoted.
Substitutes
Jemma Purfield (70′ for Plumptre) – 4/10
Molly Pike (70′ for Green) – 4/10
Remy Siemsen (70′ for Tierney) – 4/10
Georgia Eaton-Collins (70′ for Bott) – 4/10
Missy Goodwin (75′ for Cain) – N/A
Manager
Willie Kirk – 4/10 – Leicester confirmed great bravery, however they simply aren’t on Aston Villa’s stage.
Player of the match – Rachel Daly (Aston Villa)
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