Crystal Palace left Villa Park with a point after Abbie Larkin’s superb second-half finish cancelled out Aston Villa’s opener. The result means the Eagles have taken another point on the road in Birmingham, having made the same journey for the second time in a week.
Palace had an early opportunity when Molly Bartrip met the ball inside the area following a free-kick, but her attempt towards the far corner was kept out by Akane Okuma. Villa created the better openings during the first half, with Pauline Peyraud-Magnin making several saves, while Larkin went close at the other end shortly before the interval.
The match became more open after the break and Villa moved ahead 10 minutes into the second half. Noelle Maritz finished a swift counter-attack to put the hosts in front.
Palace continued to push for an equaliser, with Larkin at the centre of the action. After a penalty appeal involving Océane Deslandes was waved away, the Ireland international took matters into her own hands nine minutes later. She intercepted a loose Villa pass, advanced towards goal and unleashed a 20-yard strike that flew beyond Okuma.
Both sides had chances to claim victory late on. Shannon O’Brien missed an opportunity for Villa, while Peyraud-Magnin produced an excellent stop during added time to preserve the draw. Palace therefore head into the October international break in eighth place, with Arsenal still to play in the WSL.
The Eagles will return to action against West Ham United at the Borough Sports Ground on Sunday, 18 October, with kick-off scheduled for 12:00 BST.
