Aston Villa completed a dramatic comeback victory over Leicester City on Sunday, winning 2-1 at the King Power Stadium to deepen the Foxes’ Women’s Super League relegation fears.
A Game of Two Halves
The old cliche rang true in Sunday’s meeting, with Villa looking down-and-out in the first half.
Leicester seemed set for a precious three points when Swiss star Alisha Lehmann – a former Villa player – broke the deadlock on 38 minutes.
Latching onto Hannah Cain’s well-timed cutback, Lehmann slotted home to give the hosts a deserved half-time lead.
However, Villa emerged from the tunnel as a transformed side for the second half.
Just two minutes in, defender Anna Patten was left unmarked at the near post to flick home an equaliser.
With Villa pressing relentlessly and substitute Ebony Salmon causing chaos for the Leicester backline, a winner felt inevitable.
Indeed, one arrived late on in the game when Scotland winger Kirsty Hanson drove low through goalkeeper Janina Leitzig‘s legs in the 84th minute.
Hanson had been kept quiet for much of the game, and spoke of her frustration after the final whistle: “I was really frustrated, but in my head I was thinking, ‘it’s coming Kirsty, it’s coming, you just have to keep going.
“I took my chance, and I’m happy that hard work pays off”, she explained.
Leicester Look Destined for the Drop
The result lifts Villa to eighth in the table, continuing a fine run of form that recently included a draw against league leaders Manchester City.
For Leicester, though, the picture grows bleaker by the week. Still three points adrift at the foot of the table – having failed to score more than once in any game all season – Rick Passmoor’s side face a monumental challenge to beat the drop.
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