Bristol City, who were struggling in the Women's Super League, closed the gap at the bottom of the table with a draw with Aston Villa thanks to Carey Jones' stunning long-range strike.
Villa took control early on and after 13 minutes Jordan Nobbs was unmarked with a low drive from the edge of the area past Shay Yanez.
But their lead didn't last long, and just two minutes later Amalie Testrup faulted Villa for a mistake in clearing, calmly edging past Daphne van Domselaar after Emily Syme broke through.
After equalizing, Bristol City could do little to threaten and Villa were completely in control when Adriana Leon hit the back post after Anna Patten played the ball across the face of goal. They made shots and finally regained the upper hand in the second half.
Still unable to extend the lead, Jones equalized again with a fine finish from 25 yards, firing into the top corner.
Villa almost won the match in the final moments, but the away team scrambled the free kick over the goal line.
Bristol City, who have returned to the top of the table this season, are two points behind second-placed West Ham, who will face title-chasing Arsenal on Sunday (12:30pm Japan time), but Villa remain in eighth place. ing.
Villa control is clinically inadequate
A dominant performance wasn't enough for Aston Villa to beat Bristol City.
Villa had 72% of possession and had 36 shots on goal against the visiting team's four players, but they were thwarted by resolute defending and a number of good saves from Yanez.
City stayed back and defended with numbers, constricting the space and making it difficult for Villa to create clear chances.
Villa showed some creativity in the final third, with Kenza Dali linking the play after Rachel Daley got in behind the defence, but they were unable to convert any chances.
Substitute striker Ebony Salmon almost snatched a late winner, but she fired wide of the near post from inside the six-yard box and Nobbs' shot went over the crossbar.
Villa suffered a double blow of defeat. laura blindkilled brown Transfer deadline day to Manchester City and fellow midfielder Lucy Staniforth excluded Although an ankle injury sidelined him for the rest of the season, they were not without power in the middle of the pitch.
Carla Ward's side were effective going forward, but remained content to focus on the counter-attack as Bristol City remained content to focus on the counter-attack and were able to make Villa pay for it twice on the break, resulting in the final The lack of deliverables proved costly.
rear Lost to relegation rivals West Ham Getting back on track quickly was vital for City as they look to play it safe in their first season back in the top flight last weekend.
Leicester City and Brighton fixtures – who Melissa Phillips was recently fired as director. – The Vixens have a chance to close the gap in their next two games.
lineup
Aston Villa Women's
formation 4-3-3
- 1Van Domselaar
- 2mailing
- FourPatten
- 26Maritz
- 33pacheco
- Tendali
- 6CauchyReplacementmcgillin 78 minutesminutes
- 8Knobs
- twenty threeLeonReplacementsalmonin 78 minutesminutes
- 9daily
- 20Hanson
substitute
- 7Lehman
- 11gregory
- 13poor
- 17salmon
- 18Mullet
- twenty oneREIT
- twenty twomcgill
- twenty fivetaylor
bristol city women
formation 4-2-3-1
- 30YañezI made a reservation in 90 minutes.
- 2PowellReplacementHalesin 74 minutesminutesBooked in 83 minutes
- FourRayzel
- 6connollyReplacementWardin 74 minutesminutes
- 11napierBooked for 11 minutes
- 8rogers
- twenty threejones
- twenty fourmorganReplacementbullin 90+5'minutes
- 16ShimeReplacementaspinin 45 minutesminutes
- twenty twoevansReplacementharrisonin 61 minutesminutes
- 17test lap
substitute
- 3strike
- Fiveaspin
- 7harrison
- 9Hales
- 13Clerk
- 15bull
- 18Stratigakis
- 29Ward
- 36slocom
- Referee:
- stacey pearson
- Attendance:
- 2,190
live text
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Game over, Aston Villa Women 2, Bristol City Women 2.
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End of the second half, Aston Villa Women's 2, Bristol City Women's 2.
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Attempt saved. Rachel Daley (Aston Villa Women) fired a header from the center of the box, but it was saved in the top right corner of the goal. Kenza Dali assists the cross.
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Corner, Aston Villa Women. Shay Yañez conceded a goal.
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Attempt saved. Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) took a right-footed shot from the center of the box that was saved in the bottom right corner.
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Attempt blocked. Mayumi Pacheco's (Aston Villa Women's) left-footed shot from close range is blocked.
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Attempt saved. Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women) fired a right-footed shot from close range that was saved in the bottom left corner. Supported by Rachel Daly.
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Offside, Bristol City Women. Amalie Testorup was ruled offside.
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Substitution, Bristol City Women. Jasmine Bull replaces Ffionn Morgan.
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Attempt failed. Simone McGill (Aston Villa Women) took a header from the center of the box, but it missed the top right corner of the goal. Sarah Mayring assisted on the cross.
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Offside, Bristol City Women. Amalie Testorup was ruled offside.
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Shay Yañez (Bristol City Women) was shown a yellow card.
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From a corner kick, Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) took a right-footed shot from the right side of the box that hit the bar.
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Corner, Aston Villa Women. Amy Rogers confirmed.
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Attempt blocked. Rachel Daley (Aston Villa Women)'s left-footed shot from the center of the box was blocked. Supported by Mayumi Pacheco.
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Attempt failed. Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) took a header from the center of the box, but it went wide to the left of the target. Kenza Dali assists a cross from a set-piece situation.
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Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick on the right.
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Foul by Carey Jones (Bristol City Women).
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Attempt blocked. Rachel Daley (Aston Villa Women)'s right-footed shot from the center of the box was blocked. Assisted by Jordan Nobbs.
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Attempt failed. Kenza Dali (Aston Villa Ladies) took a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it missed the left side of the frame. Supported by Kirsty Hanson.