A dominant second-half performance saw London City Lionesses secure a convincing victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park, with a brace from S. Kumagai sealing the three points in this Barclays WSL clash.
Lionesses roar to victory at Villa Park as Kumagai stars in 3-1 win. London City Lionesses secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League on Sunday, thanks to a clinical second-half display spearheaded by captain Saki Kumagai’s brace. The Japanese international’s double, either side of Isla Goodwin’s strike, turned the tide after a competitive first half that saw the scores level at the break. Playing away at Villa Park, the Lionesses showed resilience to withstand an early Villa fightback and pull away late on, moving them up to fifth in the table with their third win in five matches. The game burst into life inside 12 minutes when Kumagai latched onto a precise through-ball from Kosovare Asllani to fire past Villa goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar and give the visitors the lead. It was a dream start for Nick Cushing’s side, with the midfield maestro’s movement slicing through Villa’s defence like a knife through butter. Aston Villa, however, refused to be cowed at home. Rachel Daly’s side grew into the contest, and their persistence paid off in the 33rd minute when Kenza Hanson rose highest to head home a corner, levelling the scores at 1-1. The goal breathed fresh life into the hosts, who ended the half on the front foot, though not without controversy, as midfielder Martha Taylor picked up a yellow card in first-half stoppage time for a late challenge on Asllani. The interval seemed to sharpen the Lionesses’ focus. Just six minutes after the restart, Goodwin pounced on a loose ball in the box following a clever assist from Florence Godfrey, rifling her effort into the bottom corner to restore the lead at 2-1. The goal shifted momentum decisively, and Villa’s hopes took a further blow four minutes later when Kumagai struck again, this time latching onto a threaded pass from Wiktoria Sangare to slot home her second and make it 3-1. Villa boss Natalia responded with changes, hauling off Ebony Salmon for Georgia Mulett in the 63rd minute as she sought fresh legs in attack. But the Lionesses, sensing blood, made a double switch of their own four minutes later, with Nikita Parris entering for Johanna Rönnqvist and Godfrey making way for Sofia Fransson to protect their advantage. Tempers frayed momentarily in the 68th minute when Asllani was cautioned for dissent, moments before Villa introduced Olivia Deslandes in place of Rachel Maltby. Further tweaks followed as the clock ticked down: Anna Kennedy replaced the booked Asllani for London City in the 78th minute, while Villa withdrew goalscorer Hanson for Sarah Mayling in a bid to chase the game. The final whistle approached amid late drama, with the Lionesses making a double change deep into stoppage time, introducing Tara Goldie for Goodwin and Grace Geyoro for Katie Zelem to see out the result. Her leadership and finishing quality make her indispensable. We showed character after conceding, and that’s what wins you games in this league. For Villa, the defeat leaves them languishing in eighth, after last week’s win against Manchester United. Ward lamented her side’s sluggish start to the second half. The result caps a positive week for the Lionesses, who now turn their attention to a League Cup tie, while Villa host Birmingham in the League Cup.
How the Match Was Won and Lost
The opening 45 minutes were a cagey, yet balanced, affair. London City Lionesses struck first, with S. Kumagai finishing smartly from a K. Asllani pass in the 12th minute. Aston Villa, however, showed resilience and fought their way back into the match, deservedly equalizing through K. Hanson just after the half-hour mark. The teams entered the break on level terms, with the game seemingly up for grabs.
The complexion of the match changed dramatically after the restart. The Lionesses emerged with renewed purpose and intensity, and their pressure paid off almost immediately. I. Goodwin’s goal in the 51st minute, set up by F. Godfrey, was the crucial blow that tilted the momentum firmly in the visitors’ favour. Before Villa could regroup, the Lionesses struck again. Just five minutes later, W. Sangare provided the assist for S. Kumagai to complete her brace and establish a commanding 3-1 lead. This quick-fire double proved to be an insurmountable obstacle for the home side, who, despite a flurry of substitutions, could not find a way to break down a resolute London City defence in the remaining time.
Top Performers
S. Kumagai (London City Lionesses): The undisputed player of the match. Her two goals were the foundation of the Lionesses’ victory. Kumagai demonstrated excellent positioning and clinical finishing for both her strikes, proving to be a constant threat and the decisive figure on the pitch.
I. Goodwin (London City Lionesses): Scored the all-important second goal that shifted the game’s momentum permanently. Her strike early in the second half was the catalyst for the visitors’ dominant spell and ultimately broke Aston Villa’s resistance.
K. Hanson (Aston Villa): Though on the losing side, Hanson was a bright spark for Villa. Her first-half goal was well-taken and gave her team a foothold in the game. She worked tirelessly until being substituted late in the match.
