Aston Villa took another step towards maintaining their Premier League status on Tuesday when Rachel Daly scored three times during their 5-0 drubbing of 10-woman Reading.
Alisha Lehmann and Kirsty Hanson both scored before halftime to put Villa ahead by three goals.
Alexis Mac Allister converted a penalty after Jarrod Bowen handled Kaoru Mitoma.
Aston Villa 5-0 Reading
Rachel Daly scored three goals as Aston Villa jumped ahead of Reading in the Women’s Super League table with victory against them at home. Lauren Wade put Reading ahead early but their hosts rallied quickly with two first half strikes from Daly who hit two headers before she completed her treble when Royals goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns was dismissed for challenging Kirsty Hanson late in the second half.
England International Daly has excelled since joining Villa from Houston Dash this summer and made full use of the space afforded her by Reading’s poor defence. She set up both Alisha Lehmann and Hanson before switching roles on the stroke of half-time with another superb cross to Hanson before making it three after Mayumi Pacheco provided an opportunity for her.
Brighton 1-0 West Ham
Reading’s relegation fears increased following their defeat at Manchester City prior to the international break, when they were comfortably defeated by Villa. Daly scored twice in the first half before providing assists for Alisha Lehmann and Kirsty Hanson to complete a comprehensive victory at Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Veltman scored her second strike from a corner when Alexis Mac Allister flicked it to her, using her chest to head it home. Soon afterwards, Pascal Gross nodded on Veltman’s cross for Mitoma to score at the back post.
An anxious Goldstone crowd watched with anticipation as an intense match unfolded; only Kayleigh Green’s second-half header from Katie Robinson delivery saved the Hammers. Dagny Brynjarsdottir almost got Reading back into it before Zoe Morse blocked her shot off at the line.
Info: Kooralive
Manchester United 3-0 Tottenham
The reigning champions strolled to victory as they extended their lead by six points heading into Saturday’s FA Cup Final against Chelsea at Wembley. Goals scored early by Leah Galton and Alessia Russo left Tottenham struggling in relegation territory.
Galton capitalized on an error by Amy Turner to score the opening goal, while Russo then doubled their advantage three minutes later with an in-swinging cross from Ella Toone volleyed home by Russo for another goal.
Daly made matters even worse for their hosts when she scored again after Mayumi Pacheco played her into space. Kirsty Hanson almost pulled one back for the visitors but her header hit against the post instead.
Reading were reduced to 10 players after Jacqueline Burns was sent off for fouling Kirsty Hanson as a substitute. But Daly had the final say with her speedy run through and stunning strike past reserve goalkeeper Grace Moloney; Daly now leads the WSL scoring chart with eight goals scored this season.
Chelsea 2-1 Everton
Chelsea finally broke their 14-match winless run against Everton by defeating them and Rachel Daly’s three goal hat-trick was decisive in sealing victory at Stamford Bridge. Daly scored twice before half time before sealing her triple early in the second period to ensure an easy home win at Stamford Bridge.
Lauren Wade gave the Royals an early lead before Daly stormed clear to fire past keeper Ellie Roebuck for her second goal of the match and put herself joint top scorer of the WSL scorer’s table with Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw.
Reading defender Gemma Evans was sent off after she committed a foul on Daly in the box, forcing Chambers into making a substitution with goalkeeper Jackie Burns being replaced with Grace Moloney. Daly made no mistake from the penalty spot to put Villa five goals up, before setting up Alisha Lehmann and Kirsty Hanson before setting up substitute Julio Enciso who narrowly missed her shot on goal.
Source: Kora live