Aston Villa 4-3 Manchester City: Rachel Daly scores twice on debut as hosts win seven-goal thriller

Rachel Daly scored twice on her debut as she made a "dream start" in Aston Villa's thrilling victory over Manchester City in their Women's Super League opener.

Daly arrived from Houston Dash in the summer and played at left-back in England's Euro 2022 triumph but showed her versatility with an exemplary forward display at Villa Park.

The 30-year-old contributed to three of Villa's four goals - winning the ball back for their first, producing a sublime finish for the second and tapping in the winner from close range.

The result marks Villa's first ever win over the Blues, who until Sunday had won all four of their previous meetings by an aggregate score of 17-0.

"[She will be] massive," said Villa boss Carla Ward.

"She was unwell yesterday and this morning. We didn't know after team breakfast if she was going to play and she's gone out and produced that today.

"She's a winner, she sets standards, she gets after people but she can play for sure."

Daly said: "It's a dream start. Getting on the scoresheet not once but twice is obviously nice, but more importantly getting a win at home against one of the top teams in this league.

"We wanted to be brave, take risks, create chances and make this a horrible place to play and I think we did that."

It proved to be a difficult opening period for Gareth Taylor's City side, who welcomed back captain Steph Houghton from a long-term Achilles injury but initially struggled to find their rhythm as they adjusted to the loss of Keira Walsh in a world-record deal and several other star players this summer.

Daly's tackle on Spanish midfielder Laia Aleixandri played a major part in the opening goal, allowing Swiss striker Alisha Lehmann to drive into the City area and fire into the bottom left corner.

The hosts deservedly doubled their lead when Daly expertly curled a right-foot effort into the top corner after City had failed to clear their lines.

However, a mistake by Villa goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who tipped a Laura Coombs shot over her own line, was the catalyst for a City fightback.

Khadija Shaw headed in a leveller from Houghton's nod back across goal and less than 90 seconds later Coombs drove in Chloe Kelly's cross to put the visitors ahead.

But in a see-saw encounter France midfielder Kenza Dali equalised for Ward's side with a deflected effort from 20 yards, before Daly prodded in her second of the game to round off the scoring and inflict a first opening-day defeat on City for eight years.

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City adjust to life without Lionesses

After finishing third last season City boss Taylor has stressed that the club's focus is on winning a first WSL title since 2016, but his team served up the sort of showing that suggests it may instead be a year of transition.

With Ellen White, Jill Scott and Karen Bardsley's retirements, Lucy Bronze and Walsh heading to Barcelona and Georgia Stanway and Caroline Weir also departing to Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, there was an unfamiliar feel and look to City's starting XI.

For all the positives attached to their stirring recovery from 2-0 down to lead 3-2, Taylor will also be aware that the loss of five Lionesses, in particular midfielders Walsh and Stanway, were keenly felt.

The use of Aleixandri, a summer signing from Atletico Madrid, away from her normal defensive berth did not work and while Japan midfielder Yui Hasegawa was unavailable, she offers a different type of solution further up the pitch.

Another new signing Mary Fowler came on with City chasing the game but both her introduction and that of fellow striker Deyna Castellanos did little provide the balance that appeared to be missing at times.

"It's a tough start, it's not the start we wanted but we've been in tough positions before and we'll fight back, roll our sleeves up and get back to work next week," Taylor said.

In contrast Villa, who were without several regulars themselves including captain Remi Allen, appeared to reap the benefits of a bold summer transfer window.

And this performance, along with the recruitment of Daly, Dali, Danielle Turner, Rachel Corsie, Kirsty Hanson and Anna Patten suggests they may be capable of improving upon their ninth-place finish last term.