Vivianne Miedema's first WSL brace since September 2022 underpinned Manchester City's 4-2 win over a plucky Aston Villa
Having knocked Manchester United out of the Women's League Cup in midweek, City weren't banking on falling behind after just five minutes. Chastity Grant provided the finish after a simple long ball into the right channel created the Villa goal.
Jill Roord was guilty of missing chances, but Miedema made no mistake when a loose square pass from Villa defender Danielle Turner gifted her an equaliser. Villa were punished again 35 minutes in when they gave Miedema too much space 20 yards from goal, allowing the Dutch star to curl a stunning strike into the top corner.
City were caught cold only 45 seconds into the second half when more complacent defending saw Laia Aleixandri, also at fault for Villa's opener, meekly turn the ball into her own net. Those blushes were spared when Mary Fowler put City back ahead with a stunner that perhaps even eclipsed Miedema's strike. The crucial buffer that killed off Villa's spirit then came from Jess Park an hour in, meeting Kerstin Casparij's cross from the right.
GOAL rates Manchester City's players from Villa Park…
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Ayaka Yamashita (5/10):
Was likely to start in place of Khiara Keating anyway, but injury to the young England star made up the boss's mind. Sported a cap in the first half to keep the low winter sun out of her eyes. Arguably beaten too easily by Grant's strike but may have been slightly unsighted.
Kerstin Casparij (6/10):
Not enough pressure on the ball in the lead-up to Villa's second goal, with the attack initially building down her side of the pitch. Made up for that with a run forward and teasing cross that made City's killer fourth.
Leia Aleixandri (4/10):
Outwitted, outmuscled and outpaced by Grant for Villa's early goal. Her afternoon only got worse with the tame own goal, more the result of poor positioning rather than misfortune, that started the second half and brought the hosts back level.
Rebecca Knaak (6/10):
The winter signing was already playing her fourth game for the club since earlier this month. Similarly had issues with Grant until City got into their rhythm and started controlling things a bit more. Advanced with the ball into midfield well.
Leila Ouahabi (6/10):
Got forward and saw a plenty of the ball on the left flank.
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Jill Roord (6/10):
Missed two excellent chances in the first half alone, one a shot she dragged wide from a great position, and then a free header at close-range. Another free header inside the six-yard box early in the second half also flew over. Good that she was in the right place to score, bad that she repeatedly failed to take opportunities.
Yui Hasegawa (7/10):
Neat and tidy in small spaces that ultimately helped City camp in Villa's half of the pitch after the shock of being pegged back to 2-2. Picking passes to break the lines helped create chances.
Jess Park (7/10):
A late replacement in the starting XI after Laura Coombs was injured in the warm-up. Often pulled wide into pockets nearer the flanks for link-up play and to create space for others. Sniffed an opportunity to get into the box as she connected with Caparij's cross for the fourth goal.
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Aoba Fujino (6/10):
Certainly a hard-working performance, both on and off the ball, from the emerging talent. Made sure not to neglect defensive duties.
Vivianne Miedema (9/10):
Tasked with leading the line again, as she did against Manchester United in the WSL derby last weekend, rather than the deeper midfield role she's become known for in recent seasons. Showed the goalpoacher's instinct hasn't left her by gobbling up the equaliser with a first-time finish from Villa's mistake and then scored an absolute pearler to put City in front. Disappointed not to complete a hat-trick with a second-half header with the goal at her mercy.
Mary Fowler (8/10):
Earned assist credit for Miedema's second even if she didn't really do much to contribute to the goal, but there is no taking away from the one she scored to put City 3-2 ahead. It was an ambitious long-range effort that looped into the far top corner.
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Kerolin (5/10):
A City debut for the Brazilian following her January arrival four days earlier.
Khadija Shaw (5/10):
Back on the pitch following a recent injury layoff. Valuable minutes for the star striker.
Laura Blindkilde Brown (N/A):
Back on familiar territory against her former club for the last few minutes.
Aemu Oyama (N/A):
Another late debutant off the bench.
Gareth Taylor (7/10):
Resting Miedema for the League Cup tie in midweek proved to be a risk worth taking, with City winning that tie and reaping the rewards of her return to the team for this one. Some of the manager's other selection decisions were made for him because of injuries.
