Ebony Salmon came on in the 79th minute
Ebony Salmon scored in the 94th minute to secure Aston Villa's first Women's Super League win of the season in dramatic fashion against Crystal Palace.
The substitute picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and smashed it into the top corner to send Villa Park wild.
It looked as if the win had slipped through Villa fingers when Annabel Blanchard made it 2-2 in the 86th minute with a neat volley from a fine Ashleigh Weerden cross.
Palace had capitalised on a fine start at Villa Park to lead in the 30th minute through My Cato, the midfielder coolly slotting home from the edge of the box.
The hosts responded 10 minutes later as defender Anna Patten took two touches in the box before smashing beyond Shae Yanez.
Rachel Daly then put Villa ahead with an instinctive finish in the fifth minute of first-half injury time to cap a fine turnaround.
Villa started the second half with intent and Brazilian striker Gabi Nunes should have extended their lead but could only fire over the top from close range.
Villa, who have won at home for the first time since a 1-0 win over Brighton in December 2023, have lifted themselves to eighth in the WSL while Palace are bottom.
Dramatic win can push Villa on
It would be hard to find a more drama-filled ending than the one that unfolded at Villa Park - and the home players had every reason to be ecstatic.
The win looked to have gone when Blanchard found an equaliser for Palace late on but Villa heads did not drop as they had on previous occasions this season.
Instead, they surged forward and substitute Salmon produced a moment of magic to secure three points.
Villa are now off the foot of the table, thanks to a result that will start to build some confidence among a talented squad.
With Daly and Nunes in the Villa forward line, they have enough talent to cause any side in the WSL problems.
Up next for Villa in the WSL is a trip to Arsenal - and they will travel to north London full of belief.
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