MANA IWABUCHI propelled Aston Villa to their first WSL home win with a superb contender for goal of the season.
And the Japan star’s wonder-strike helped the Villans move five points clear of the drop zone with the relegation battle heating up.
Mana Iwabuchi was on target for Aston Villa who picked up their first home win in the league this termCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Iwabuchi and her team-mates have moved to ninth ahead of their derby clash with BirminghamCredit: Reuters
Both sides began brightly and eager to get off to a fast start in their quest to notch up a vital victory.
And it looked as if the visitors would be the most likely to strike first with Kit Graham’s tenth-minute effort taking a dangerous deflection before being gathered by Lisa Weiss.
But it was Villa, with their zesty high press and Iwabuchi and Diana Silva causing problems, who proved the more clinical of the teams.
And Iwabuchi caught Spurs cold with a cracking top-corner shot beating Aurora Mikalsen in the 12th minute.
Rehanne Skinners’ players – stung by that early blow – battled hard to find an equaliser.
They nearly had a chance to with Australia ace Alanna Kennedy sending her volley narrowly wide shortly before half-time.
The second period saw Spurs stopper Mikalsen – standing in for the injured Becky Spencer – picking up the first yellow card of the game after a heavy challenge on Silva on the edge of the penalty area.
And Tottenham came close to nabbing a second-half leveller with debutant Cho So-hyun narrowly missing a tap-in off a Kit Graham cut back.
Diana Silva put in a solid shift for Villa before being subbed off in the 97th minuteCredit: Reuters
And the South Korea skipper, on loan from West Ham, saw her second effort sail over the bar in the 100th minute.
Villa’s third win of the season saw them leapfrog Brighton and West Ham up to ninth in the table.
The Seagulls and the Hammers are facing crunch clashes with Chelsea and Bristol City on Sunday.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
