Hemp inspires Man City to comeback win over Villa

2 years ago 38

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Lauren Hemp scored twice in four minutes to secure victory for Manchester City over Aston Villa in the Women's Super League at the Joie Stadium.

Danielle Turner had given the visitors an early lead, but Carla Ward's side struggled to contain City and relented in the second half.

The win lifted City up to second in the table, level on points with third-placed Arsenal and three behind leaders Chelsea, who meet on Sunday.

Villa, who struggled to get star striker Rachel Daly into the game throughout, remain 10th.

They started with purpose and, moments after Jordan Nobbs squandered a chance from close range, Turner found the corner with a superbly improvised side-foot volley from Kenza Dali's cross.

City took time to get a foothold in the game, but eventually began dominating possession and almost levelled after 21 minutes through Hemp's audacious volley.

Jill Roord had an effort cleared before England winger Hemp fired just wide from the left-hand side of the box.

Villa defender Anna Patten then denied Khadija Shaw after a superb cross by Chloe Kelly, before Villa somehow survived another defensive error as pressure intensified.

Sarah Mayling was robbed by Shaw before Patten and keeper Daphne van Domselaar made blocks to thwart Roord and Kelly in the area.

The second half continued a pattern of City pressing and winning the ball high against Villa's defence, and they went close again when Hemp shot over the bar.

Their pressure finally told and the game quickly changed.

First, Hemp emphatically headed in Kelly's cross past Van Domselaar, then completed the turnaround, connecting with Alex Greenwood's header from Kelly's corner to force the ball over the line.

Hunting a hat-trick, Hemp forced Van Domselaar into an excellent save with a header as City were able to close out the game fairly comfortably.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Man City Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

35Keating
4Aleixandri
33KennedySubstituted forCasparijat 45'minutes
5Greenwood
15Ouahabi
25Hasegawa
7Coombs
9Kelly
20Roord
11Hemp
21Shaw

Substitutes

1Roebuck
3Stokes
6Houghton
8Fowler
10Castellanos
14Morgan
16Park
18Casparij
30Mace

Aston Villa Women

Formation 4-3-3

1van Domselaar
2MaylingBooked at 75mins
4Patten
14Turner
33Pacheco
5Staniforth
6CorsieBooked at 30minsSubstituted forParkerat 74'minutes
8NobbsSubstituted forSalmonat 74'minutes
22MagillSubstituted forHansonat 45'minutes
9Daly
10Dali

Substitutes

15Parker
16McLoughlin
17Salmon
19Blindkilde Brown
20Hanson
21Leat
23Leon

Live Text

Match ends, Manchester City Women 2, Aston Villa Women 1.
Second Half ends, Manchester City Women 2, Aston Villa Women 1.
Chloe Kelly (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Sarah Mayling (Aston Villa Women).
Attempt saved. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kenza Dali.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Khadija Shaw (Manchester City Women).
Attempt saved. Chloe Kelly (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women).
Attempt saved. Lucy Parker (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ebony Salmon.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Daphne van Domselaar (Aston Villa Women).
Sarah Mayling (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Chloe Kelly (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Sarah Mayling (Aston Villa Women).
Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Ebony Salmon replaces Jordan Nobbs.
Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Lucy Parker replaces Rachel Corsie.
Laura Coombs (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Rachel Corsie (Aston Villa Women).