we just sold kirky to villa
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Match Review: Aston Villa Women 1-2 Manchester United Women
The Womens Super League (WSL) season has finally begun, after a delayed start with a summer World Cup, but it got off to a flier for Mark Skinner's side with a scrappy win away at Aston Villa.
With a record WSL crowd for Villa Park of just over 12,500, the atmosphere was lively - and I did my part from the away end to help cheer on the Reds too.
United looked comfortable in possession in the first half but, like yesterday's men's game vs Palace, ultimately toothless. In contrast, Villa were a compact, disciplined unit. They moved well as a team and in a highly synchronised unison. This kept United out and allowed Villa - in particularly Rachel Daly - to threaten on the counter.
The second half saw more risk and energy from United as the rain fell on Birmingham, but the game took until the 74th minute to come to life. Ex-United winger Kirsty Hanson was sent off for a high foot, studs up challenge on Hayley Ladd, and United began to gamble.
This gave a sharper Villa a chance and England international Daly snapped it up, slotting past compatriot Mary Earps at her near post. United rallied and began to hold possession with much more assurance, and the hard work of Lucia Garcia paid off with a goal for the Spaniard just five minutes later.
Substitute Rachel Williams - no stranger to Birmingham having had two spells with the Blues - came on for the debutant Geyse da Silva Ferreira in the 66th minute and it was the veteran who clinched victory in stoppage time with a header in the 92nd minute. The nod wasn't that powerful and seemed to go past Van Domselaar in slow motion, and gave United a deserved three points to start the season.
Villa will feel hard done to given that they played a good game and showed excellent tactical discipline and coordination. Manager Carla Ward spoke to the BBC about the need for full time referees and assistants, rather than the current part-time system. Ward might have been alluding to some 'dark arts' mischief from United's star centre-back Maya Le Tissier (no relation) who body checked Ebony Salmon just outside the box and in front of the referee it appeared. Villa fans were outraged and demanding a red card, whilst United fans played the action down. The middle ground is that it was off-the-ball shithousery and deserved a yellow. It didn't stop a goal opportunity but it was unsporting and deliberate.
That said, Villa also had several occasions of play acting and feigning clips to the calves or ankles. Nothing as blatant as Maya's foul but food for thought.
We end though with Player of the Match Lucia Garcia. After running hard the whole 90 and getting a goal, she gave a rare interview to the BBC and whoops 馃槀
A United performance we can be proud of though. Up the reds.
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Kirsty Hanson has left utd and signed for Aston villa 馃憦
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