Crystal Palace 3-1 Aston Villa Stats: Eagles Boost WSL Survival Hopes With Vital Victory

Goals from Aniek Nouwen, Ashleigh Weerden, and a late strike from Katie Stengel sealed a 3-1 win for Palace. Explore the key facts and stats in our comprehensive post-match breakdown.

Match Overview

📊 Final Score: Crystal Palace 3-1 Aston Villa
📅 Date: March 16, 2025
🏆 Competition: WSL – Round 16
📍 Venue: VBS Community Stadium, Sutton, Surrey
👥 Attendance: 1,130

Crystal Palace snapped a three-match losing streak with a thoroughly deserved victory over struggling Aston Villa. Aniek Nouwen opened the scoring in the 33rd minute and Ashleigh Weerden doubled the lead shortly after half-time. Lucy Parker's 85th-minute goal briefly gave Villa hope, but Katie Stengel sealed the win in stoppage time after capitalising on an error from Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo, giving the Eagles a vital three points in their battle against relegation.

Phases of Play Analysis

First Half (1-0)

The opening period saw Aston Villa dominate possession (64% vs 36%) but struggle to turn their territorial advantage into meaningful chances. Despite Villa's control, Crystal Palace's disciplined defensive shape and threat on the counter proved more effective. The hosts took the lead in the 33rd minute when Aniek Nouwen found the net from Allyson Swaby's assist, giving Palace a deserved lead at the break.

First Half Stats Breakdown:

• Crystal Palace: 3 shots on target from 5 attempts (60% accuracy)

• Aston Villa: 1 shot on target from 6 attempts (17% accuracy)

• Crystal Palace passes: 133 (54% accuracy)

• Aston Villa passes: 230 (79% accuracy)

• Crystal Palace created more danger with 3 shots on target to Villa's 1

Second Half (2-1 to 3-1)

The match opened up significantly after the break, with Palace doubling their lead in the 53rd minute through Ashleigh Weerden, assisted by Katie Stengel. Villa responded by making a quadruple substitution and gradually built pressure, creating several opportunities from their 13 second-half corners. Lucy Parker eventually reduced the deficit in the 85th minute, but any hopes of a late comeback were extinguished when Stengel capped a stellar individual performance with a goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time, pouncing on a poor error from Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo.

Second Half Stats Breakdown:

• Crystal Palace: 4 shots on target from 6 attempts (67% accuracy)

• Aston Villa: 2 shots on target from 13 attempts (15% accuracy)

• Crystal Palace passes: 120 (54% accuracy)

• Aston Villa passes: 210 (76% accuracy)

• Aston Villa created 13 corners but could only convert one into a goal

Tactical Analysis

Crystal Palace's Approach

Crystal Palace deployed a 4-3-1-2 formation under manager Leif Gunnar Smerud, focusing on defensive solidity and rapid transitions. Their tactical approach included:

1. Compact defensive block: 47 clearances and 10 interceptions disrupted Villa's attacking rhythm

2. Clinical finishing: 7 shots on target from 11 attempts (64% accuracy)

3. Direct counter-attacks: Despite only 35% possession, they created quality scoring opportunities

4. Defensive discipline: Maintained shape throughout and limited Villa to just 3 shots on target despite facing 19 attempts

Aston Villa's Approach

Aston Villa lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation under Natalia Arroyo, focusing on possession-based football but lacking cutting edge in the final third. Their tactical plan consisted of:

1. Dominant ball retention: 78% pass accuracy with 440 total passes

2. Wide overloads: Creating 17 corners and numerous crossing opportunities

3. Quadruple substitution impact: Making four changes between the 63rd and 64th minute to chase the game

4. High press: Pushing their defensive line upfield, resulting in 65% possession

5. Lack of cutting edge: Despite territorial dominance, they managed just 3 shots on target from 19 attempts

Individual Performances

Key Performers - Crystal Palace

Katie Stengel (9.1 rating) - Player of the Match

• 1 goal, 2 assists

• 3/3 shots on target (100%)

• 23/36 passes completed (64%)

• 8 duels won

• 3 chances created

• 5 recoveries

Aniek Nouwen (8.3 rating)

• 1 goal

• 1/1 shots on target (100%)

• 13/32 passes completed (41%)

• 12 clearances (6 headed)

• 2 blocks

• 15 defensive actions

Lily Woodham (8.0 rating)

• Strong defensive performance

• Key contribution to Palace's resilient defensive structure

• Helped restrict Villa to just 3 shots on target

Ashleigh Weerden (7.9 rating)

• 1 goal

• 1/2 shots on target (50%)

• 8/15 passes completed (53%)

• 3 successful dribbles (60%)

• 5 recoveries

Key Performers - Aston Villa

Chasity Grant (7.1 rating)

• 91% pass completion (highest in match)

• 3 chances created

• 2/3 successful tackles (67%)

• 7 ground duels won (54%)

• 6 recoveries

Lucy Parker (7.1 rating)

• 1 goal

• 1/2 shots on target (50%)

• 41/52 passes completed (79%)

• 3/3 tackles won (100%)

• 7 passes into final third

Jordan Nobbs (7.1 rating)

• Hit the woodwork once

• 28/32 passes completed (88%)

• 2 chances created

• 7 passes into final third

• Made significant impact as a substitute

Rachel Daly (6.7 rating)

• 1/3 shots on target (33%)

• 7/8 passes completed (88%)

• 3 duels won

• Limited impact before being substituted after 63 minutes

Sabrina D'Angelo (5.0 rating)

• 4 saves

• 3 goals conceded

• 1 critical error leading to Stengel's goal

• 27/30 passes completed (90%)

• Struggling performance that ultimately cost her team

Momentum Analysis

1. Minutes 4-5: Early Villa pressure (-14%)

2. Minutes 11-13: Strong Villa momentum (-49%)

3. Minutes 32-35: Palace surge following Nouwen's goal (+16%)

4. Minutes 47-49: Strong Palace momentum after half-time (+54%)

5. Minutes 52-54: Decisive Palace period culminating in Weerden's goal (-95%)

6. Minutes 69-71: Villa's strongest period of sustained pressure (-100%)

7. Minutes 84-87: Villa momentum following Parker's goal (-24%)

8. Minutes 90+: Palace's late surge sealing the victory with Stengel's goal (-58%)

Substitution Impact

Crystal Palace's substitutions:

• Ashleigh Weerden → Isibeal Atkinson (88'): Minimal impact with limited time

• Clarissa Larisey → Elise Hughes (90+2'): Minimal impact with limited time

Aston Villa's substitutions:

• Missy Bo Kearns → Miriael Taylor (63'): Rating difference -0.03, added set-piece threat with 3 corners

• Gabriela Nunes Da Silva → Rachel Daly (63'): Rating difference -0.81, struggled to make impact

• Danielle Turner → Noelle Maritz (63'): Rating difference +0.14, improved defensive stability

• Jordan Nobbs → Kirsty Hanson (64'): Rating difference +0.90, significant improvement in midfield control

• Mayumi Pacheco → Paula Tomas (79'): Rating difference +0.93, added attacking impetus

Set Piece Analysis

Set pieces played a significant role in the match outcome:

• Corners: Crystal Palace 4, Aston Villa 17

• Crystal Palace's opening goal came from a well-executed set-piece

• Despite Villa's 17 corners, they struggled to create clear-cut chances

• Palace defended resolutely against Villa's numerous set-piece situations

Key Match Insights

1. Clinical Efficiency: Crystal Palace scored 3 goals from 7 shots on target, while Villa managed just 1 goal from 3 shots on target

2. Possession vs. Effectiveness: Villa's 65% possession did not translate into goals due to Palace's disciplined defensive structure

3. Defensive Resilience: Palace made 47 clearances to Villa's 14, highlighting their determined defensive display

4. Individual Quality: Katie Stengel's star performance with a goal and two assists proved decisive

5. Tactical Discipline: Palace's ability to maintain their defensive shape while remaining dangerous on the counter was crucial to their success

6. Goalkeeping Error: D'Angelo's critical mistake in stoppage time killed any chance of a Villa comeback and highlighted the impact of individual errors at crucial moments

Conclusion

Crystal Palace's 3-1 victory over Aston Villa was a triumph of tactical discipline, defensive resilience, and clinical finishing. Despite Villa's dominance in possession and territorial advantage, Palace's ability to defend resolutely and strike effectively on the counter ultimately proved decisive.

The match highlighted several key factors that influenced the outcome:

1. The effectiveness of Palace's compact defensive structure against Villa's possession-based approach

2. The clinical nature of Palace's finishing compared to Villa's wastefulness in front of goal

3. The outstanding individual performance of Katie Stengel, who was directly involved in all three Palace goals

4. Villa's inability to convert their set-piece dominance into meaningful chances

5. Palace's mental strength to withstand prolonged periods of pressure before securing a vital three points

This result breathes new life into Crystal Palace's WSL survival hopes, while Villa's struggles continue with their fifth consecutive WSL defeat. This is mean that Villa is now only 1 point above Crystal Palace.