Aston Villa Women 0-1 Manchester United Women: Zigiotti Olme's late header settles it at Villa Park
Aston Villa Women fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Manchester United Women at Villa Park, as a substitute's header proved the difference between the two sides on a Sunday lunchtime kick-off in Birmingham.
The breakthrough came in the 72nd minute, and it was a Manchester United substitute who made the telling contribution. Julia Zigiotti Olme, on for Ella Toone just ten minutes earlier, rose to meet a Hanna Lundkvist cross from the right and headed home from close range to put the visitors in front. Sky Sports described how Zigiotti Olme turns home Hanna Lundkvist's cross at the back post to give Manchester United the lead (Sky Sports), and that strike was enough to settle the contest.
Before the goal, the game had been shaped by a flurry of substitutions as both managers looked to change the dynamic. Manchester United brought on Andrea Medina for Jayde Riviere at the start of the second half, with Medina picking up a yellow card for a bad foul shortly afterwards. Aston Villa responded with a double change of their own just after the hour, sending on Jill Baijings and Miri Taylor for Justine Kielland and Oriane Jean-François respectively, while Lucia Kendall was also shown yellow for a foul moments before the visitors' opener.
After going behind, Aston Villa threw on fresh legs in search of an equaliser, with Missy Bo Kearns, Georgia Mullett and Rofiat Imuran all introduced inside the final quarter of an hour. Manchester United also freshened things up late on, bringing on Lea Schüller for Jess Park and Rebeca Bernal for Simi Awujo as they looked to see out the win, with Zigiotti Olme later picking up a second-half booking of her own as the game petered towards full time.
Statistically, Manchester United shaded the contest, finishing with 56.2% of possession to Aston Villa's 43.8%, and a significant edge in shots with 18 attempts to Aston Villa's 6, seven of which were on target compared to Aston Villa's four. Aston Villa's goalkeeper was kept busier as a result, making six saves to Manchester United's four, while Aston Villa also won more corners, seven to four. Both sides committed similar numbers of fouls, with Manchester United picking up two yellow cards to Aston Villa's one.
The result leaves Aston Villa Women in 9th place in the Women's Super League table, with their recent league form reading DWWDL across their last five matches - a run that includes wins over Liverpool and Everton either side of draws with Crystal Palace and Arsenal, before this loss to Manchester United. For Manchester United Women, the win continues a solid spell domestically, their last five WSL outings reading WWDDW, having beaten Liverpool and Charlton Athletic, drawn with Manchester City and Everton, before claiming the points at Villa Park.
The match was played in front of a crowd of 2,682 at Villa Park, with both sides now turning their attention to their next fixtures as the Women's Super League season continues.
Written with the help of AI, using the match facts and the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.
