Man City breeze past Aston Villa to maintain perfect WSL record

Champions Manchester City are the only Women's Super League team with a 100% record after a comprehensive 4-1 win at Aston Villa on Sunday night.

On a day where Arsenal were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace and Chelsea thumped Manchester United 5-0, City marched on in professional fashion at Villa Park.

Goals by Jade Rose and Mary Fowler put Andrée Jeglertz's team in control before Amalie Vangsgaard pulled one back for Villa, but Khadija Shaw's third goal of the new season and a late effort by Lauren Hemp secured all three points for visiting City.

City broke the deadlock after 14 minutes in a moment to forget for Villa goalkeeper Akane Okuma, who joined the club this summer from INAC Kobe.

Shaw sent a header up in the air from a corner and Okuma failed to gather, which allowed Rose to stab in from close range.

It was 2-0 a quarter of an hour later when Hemp combined with Fowler, who exchanged passes with Shaw and rifled a shot into the bottom corner.

Villa reduced the deficit with three minutes of the first half left when Chasity Grant got in down the right and found Vangsgaard, who squeezed a shot under Ayaka Yamashita.

Hemp almost grabbed City's third at the start of the second half, but Okuma blocked well and Océane Deslandes was introduced soon after by Villa boss Natalia Arroyo.

- Chelsea have woken up, and that's ominous for the WSL
- Arsenal held to shock goalless draw by newly-promoted Crystal Palace
- Eva Olid not planning on changing Man United tactics after winless start

Villa pushed for a leveller and Noelle Maritz tested Yamashita before the fourth goal of the game went to Jeglertz's champions.

Lucia Kendall gave the ball away and Hemp raced at the Villa defence before she played through to Shaw to wrap up the match with a fine chipped finish off the post.

There was still time for Hemp to add a fourth to help leaders City make it two wins from two in the WSL.