Rachel Daly wins battle of the England strikers with brace in Aston Villa Women loss v Manchester United
Although Aston Villa women came up agonisingly short in their 3-2 defeat to Manchester United on Friday evening (28 April), Rachel Daly was the resounding winner of her own individual bout against Alessia Russo.
Carla Ward’s side were moments away from nicking a well-earned draw against the Women’s Super League leaders before Millie Turner headed home in the dying embers of stoppage time.
The loss left Villa in fifth position in the WSL and just three points above their closest competitors Everton.
Despite the bitterly disappointing finish to the match, Daly’s brace saw her take the bragging rights ahead of England striker Russo as the World Cup draws ever closer.
Sarina Wiegman has chopped and changed her front three in recent months, with both Daly and Russo being given run-outs as England’s centre-forward.
The Villa striker’s transition for the Lionesses has been remarkable, considering she played at left-back for the entirety of the Euro 2022 winning campaign.
However, after netting her 16th and 17th goals of the WSL season against Manchester United and joining Bunny Shaw at the top of the Golden Boot race in the process, Daly could well have moved ahead of Russo in the race for England’s starting jersey.
Both of Daly’s goals against the title contenders were brilliant finishes, with her first a well-directed looping header which left Mary Earps with no chance and the second a swivelling volley from Maz Pacheco’s low cross.
While the former Houston Dash player was lighting it up at one end, Russo struggled to impact proceedings at the other.
With just three games of the WSL season remaining, there is little time remaining for both players to make their claims for the England centre-forward role.
However, Daly has been in irrepressible form for Villa this campaign and this performance against Manchester United was yet another indicator that she can deliver the goods on the big stage.
In other Aston Villa news, Christian Purslow is keeping his promise to the squad after a player arrived at Bodymoor Heath ahead of a potential transfer.