Canada international Adriana Leon scored her first Aston Villa goal against her former club
Rachel Daly scored a superb goal in injury time to give Aston Villa a dramatic Women's Super League victory over West Ham.
Viviane Asseyi had put West Ham ahead from the penalty spot but Anna Patten headed Villa level before half-time.
Villa took the lead through Adriana Leon before Lisa Evans looked to have earned West Ham a point with a brilliant half-volley.
But Daly hooked in a spectacular late winner from just inside the box.
- Reaction and analysis from Sunday's WSL action
The Hammers suffered a 5-0 defeat to Manchester United in their last WSL outing but came out fired up against Villa.
Riko Ueki whistled a shot on the turn past the post, then brought a point-blank save out of Daphne van Domselaar with a close-range header.
When Asseyi sent Domselaar the wrong way from the spot with a low finish into the bottom-left corner West Ham should have gained enough confidence to control the game.
But instead it jolted Villa into life and Patten levelled shortly afterwards with a header at the back post as she got on the end of Daly's flick.
Villa seized the early initiative after the interval and Leon produced a clinical finish to fire the ball beyond Mackenzie Arnold, only for the home side to level with 10 minutes remaining when Evans found some space on the edge of the area and arrowed a half-volley into the top-right corner from Asseyi's knockdown.
But England international Daly produced an equally brilliant moment when she struck a powerful acrobatic effort with her left foot beyond Van Domselaar to seal the three points for the visitors.
Hammers show spirit but struggles continue
It has been a difficult start to the WSL campaign for West Ham, and they have taken just one win in seven matches, leaving them above bottom side Bristol City only on goal difference.
Hammers boss Rehanne Skinner, who replaced Paul Konchesky in the summer, acknowledged in her programme notes before this encounter that the team is "in transition" and it will take time to turn around their fortunes.
There were some encouraging signs that the former Tottenham manager's approach is starting to pay off here, despite a third consecutive WSL defeat.
Risa Shimizu and Kirsty Smith stretched Villa's backline with their overlapping runs down the flanks but nobody in a claret and blue shirt could apply the finishing touch to balls teased into the box.
The absence of captain Dagny Brynjarsdottir, who is on maternity leave for the 2023-24 season, has deprived them of vital experience in the centre of midfield and leadership on the pitch.
Of equal encouragement for Skinner was the manner in which her side responded to a setback, rolling up their sleeves and refusing to be steamrolled as they had been against United.
However, the stark reality is that West Ham have failed to win any of their last 10 home league matches.
Unless they are able to tighten up defensively - having shipped 16 goals this season - they are likely to find themselves scrapping near the foot of the table.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsWest Ham Women
Formation 5-3-2
1Arnold3Shimizu21Cooke5Tysiak23Cissoko2Smith17Filis4Stringer12Harries20Asseyi9Ueki
- 1Arnold3Shimizu21CookeBooked at 85mins5Tysiak23Cissoko2Smith17FilisBooked at 49mins4StringerBooked at 39mins12HarriesSubstituted forEvansat 74'minutes20Asseyi9Ueki
Substitutes
- 7Evans11Atkinson16Ziu18Denton24Stapleton25Walsh35Ademiluyi41Flannery
Aston Villa Women
Formation 4-3-3
1van Domselaar2Mayling4Patten14Turner33Pacheco10Dali6Corsie19Blindkilde Brown23Leon9Daly20Hanson
- 1van Domselaar2MaylingBooked at 21mins4Patten14Turner33Pacheco10DaliSubstituted forStaniforthat 90+5'minutes6Corsie19Blindkilde BrownSubstituted forNobbsat 45'minutesBooked at 90mins23LeonSubstituted forLehmannat 88'minutes9DalyBooked at 85mins20HansonSubstituted forSalmonat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Staniforth7Lehmann8Nobbs16McLoughlin17Salmon18Mullett21Leat22Magill
Referee:Keith StroudMatch StatsHome TeamWest Ham WomenAway TeamAston Villa WomenPossessionHome44%Away56%ShotsHome10Away9Shots on TargetHome5Away5CornersHome6Away5FoulsHome15Away12Live Text Post update
Match ends, West Ham United Women 2, Aston Villa Women 3.
90'+7'Full Time
Second Half ends, West Ham United Women 2, Aston Villa Women 3.
90'+7'Post update
Attempt blocked. Riko Ueki (West Ham United Women) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lisa Evans with a cross.
90'+6'Post update
Corner, West Ham United Women. Conceded by Anna Patten.
90'+6'Booking
Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card.
90'+5'Post update
Foul by Alisha Lehmann (Aston Villa Women).
90'+5'Post update
Kirsty Smith (West Ham United Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+5'Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Lucy Staniforth replaces Kenza Dali.
90'+4'Post update
Attempt missed. Shannon Cooke (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Amber Tysiak.
90'+2'goalGoal!
Goal! West Ham United Women 2, Aston Villa Women 3. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Mayumi Pacheco with a headed pass.
90'+2'Post update
Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Abbey-Leigh Stringer (West Ham United Women).
90'Post update
Corner, West Ham United Women. Conceded by Anna Patten.
88'Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Alisha Lehmann replaces Adriana Leon.
87'Post update
Foul by Danielle Turner (Aston Villa Women).
87'Post update
Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
86'Post update
Attempt missed. Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kenza Dali.
85'Booking
Shannon Cooke (West Ham United Women) is shown the yellow card.
85'Booking
Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card.
85'Post update
Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Source: bbc.com