London City midfielder Saki Kumagai scored for the first time in the WSL
At a glance
London City record second WSL away win of the season
Saki Kumagai punishes Villa defending with two goals from corners
Villa winless in four home games in the WSL this season
Saki Kumagai scored twice as London City Lionesses notched up their fifth Women's Super League win of the season with a clinical victory over Aston Villa.
Japan international Kumagai gave London City an early lead at Villa Park when she headed in from close range from a corner.
A blunder by London City goalkeeper Elene Lete allowed Villa to equalise after she let Kirsty Hanson's low shot to squirm through her legs.
Isobel Goodwin smashed the ball home from barely a yard out to put London City back in front six minutes after the interval.
Kumagai then headed in from a corner for a second time shortly afterwards and Villa were unable to find a way back into the contest.
London City's victory helped them climb up to sixth in the table on 15 points, while Villa are five points behind them in eighth spot.
London City analysis: Stylish Asllani the difference
London City became the third newly-promoted side to reach five wins in their first nine games of a single campaign in the competition.
Only Sunderland in 2015 have more, with six, and it would take something quite remarkable for London City to not register at least a couple more before the end of the season.
On Sunday, they managed nine shots to Villa's 22, but had an XG of 2.02 compared with 1.76 for their opponents.
Jocelyn Precheur's side were clinical in key moments, with Kosovare Asllani at the heart of their attacking play.
Every time the stylish Swedish attacking midfielder got on the ball, London City looked dangerous.
She delivered dangerous corners for both of Kumagai's goals and led the way with chances created for London City with seven.
The Sweden midfielder has now created 30 chances in the WSL this season - more than any other player.
Only a superb save from Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo - who reached a shot destined for the top-left corner - denied Asllani the goal her top-class performance deserved.
Villa analysis: Slipshod defending costs Arroyo's side
London City were impressive but Villa boss Natalia Arroyo will be furious with the manner of the three goals her side conceded.
The visitors scored against the run of play early on when Villa failed to deal with an inswinging corner from Asllani.
Villa's defence allowed the ball to bounce in the box and Kumagai got in front of Missy Bo Kearns to head in from close range.
For London City's second, Villa defender Lynn Wilms chested the ball in the air at the back post, which allowed Freya Godfrey to knock it back across goal, leaving Goodwin an easy finish.
Yet more poor defending at an Asllani corner cost Arroyo's side as Wassa Sangare's deft flick found Kumagai, who evaded three Villa shirts to head in again.
Villa have tightened up with four clean sheets this season - twice as many as they managed in the last top-flight campaign.
They came into the match on the back of a gritty 1-0 win over free-scoring Manchester United last weekend.
But this was a return to the kind of slipshod defending that saw them concede 44 goals in the 2024-25 campaign - the joint-second most in the WSL.
Villa are also winless in four games on home turf this season, leaving Arroyo with some key issues to address.
What's next for these teams?
Aston Villa will hope to bounce back in a derby against Birmingham City in Group E of the Women's League Cup on Friday (19:00 GMT). Villa are next in WSL action on 7 December (12:00), when they travel to Tottenham.
London City travel to Ipswich Town in Group D of the Women's League Cup next Sunday (14:00). Their next WSL fixture is also in a fortnight's time, when they host Brighton (12:00).
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