Aston Villa Women secured a vital three points with a 3-2 victory away to Everton in the Women's Super League on Sunday.
Noelle Maritz opened the scoring after just four minutes, finishing a move she started with Amalie Vangsgaard. Vangsgaard then turned scorer, doubling the lead on 32 minutes from Chasity Grant's pass. The Danish forward completed her brace five minutes after half-time, again assisted by Maritz, to put Villa in a commanding position.
Everton mounted a late fightback. Holly McNamara pulled a goal back with 11 minutes remaining, and Noémie Mouchon scored in the 90th minute to set up a tense finale, but Villa held on for the win. The result extends their recent run of form to four wins and a draw from their last five outings across all competitions. Their recent league form, however, reads one win, three draws, and two losses.
How the game unfolded
Natalia Arroyo's side started brightly and were rewarded with the early goal. They controlled large periods of the first half and took a deserved 2-0 lead into the break. The third goal early in the second half seemed to seal it, but Everton's persistence made for a nervous ending. Villa's defence, which has conceded 12 league goals this season against six scored for a minus six goal difference, stood firm under late pressure to secure the points.
Key performers and context
Maritz and Vangsgaard were instrumental, contributing to all three Villa goals. The team's attack has now scored six times in the league. This victory follows a 2-0 win at Burnley, where goals came from G. Mullet and L. Murphy, and a 2-1 success against Liverpool, building significant momentum. Their recent form in the league is four wins and one draw from the last five games, a sequence that includes a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace and a 3-1 win over Newcastle United, though they also suffered a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham. Villa now turn their attention to a WSL Cup tie against Birmingham City at Keys Park on Wednesday, before a league trip to face sixth-placed Arsenal on Sunday 1 November. The squad depth was tested with Arroyo making five substitutions, including introducing Maya Hijikata and Miri Taylor just after the hour mark. The team is currently 12 points behind the league leaders, Manchester City.
