Palace boost WSL survival hopes as Brighton heap more misery on Spurs

Crystal Palace boosted their Women’s Super League survival hopes with a crucial 3-1 win over relegation rivals Aston Villa.

The Eagles claimed their first ever home victory in the division, as they prevailed in the battle between the bottom two sides.

Leif Smerud’s side struck first in the 33rd minute at VBS Community Stadium, when Allyson Swaby flicked on Lily Woodham’s corner for Chelsea loanee Aniek Nouwen to head home.

Ashleigh Weerden fired past Sabrina D’Angelo to double the lead in the 53rd minute, though Lucy Parker halved the deficit five minutes from time to set up a nail-biting finish.

However, Palace were not to be denied and, deep into stoppage time, D’Angelo lost possession way out of her goal, allowing Katie Stengel to race through and put the ball into an empty net.

That moved the Eagles to within two points of Villa, who have now lost their last five league games.

Big W at home#CPFC pic.twitter.com/a5PkR5Ud4t

— Crystal Palace F.C. Women (@cpfc_w) March 16, 2025

Meanwhile, Brighton ended a seven-game winless streak with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham, who suffered a fourth straight WSL defeat.

Fran Kirby scored the decisive goal three minutes before half-time at Gaughan Group Stadium, where they claimed their first ever away league win in this fixture.

Marisa Olislagers had twice gone close for the visitors, before Rachel McLauchlan cut the ball back for Kirby to sweep them in front.

Dario Vidosic’s side should have extended their lead through Nikita Parris and Madison Haley, but the single goal was enough to lift them to fifth place in the table.

Some player.@FranKirbypic.twitter.com/LKawpttymd

— Brighton & Hove Albion Women (@BHAFCWomen) March 16, 2025

Data Debrief: Villa’s winless streak continues

Villa remain winless in six WSL games in 2025, extending their longest run without a victory at the start of a calendar year.

Meanwhile, McLauchlan became the third Brighton player to record an assist in three successive WSL appearances against Katie Robinson (May 2023) and Maisie Symonds (November 2023).