LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 28, 2026) – Powered by a pair of goals and backflips by defender Rachel Maltby, Aston Villa opened their World Sevens Football campaign with a dominant 6-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

The nine total goals tied a record for the most combined tallies in a W7F match – set by Manchester United and West Ham just one match earlier.

Aston Villa took firm control in the first half and never looked back, scoring four times while keeping their opponents off the sheet.

The Villans took no time getting started. Noëlle Maritz received a pass from Lucia Kendall and launched a shot past Spurs goalkeeper Sophie Jackson for the 1-0 lead in the second minute.

Aston Villa doubled their lead in the ninth minute. Kirsty Hanson controlled a rebound in the penalty box and calmly slotted it into the back of the Tottenham net.

The Villans scored twice in two minutes to complete the first-half rout. Maltby added to the lead with flair, scoring the third goal from the left side of the penalty box and adding a celebratory backflip. Just moments later, Hanson completed her brace, carrying the ball into the box and then calmly finishing to put Aston Villa ahead 4-0.

Spurs had chances of their own in the first half, but Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo was equal to every attempt.

As the second half began, Spurs began to cut into the lead with a pair of goals sandwiched around an Aston Villa score. In the 18th minute, Tottenham’s Cathinka Tandberg spun at the right post and slid the ball into the net. Villa’s Oriane Jean-François struck back just moments later, but Spurs would not be stymied, with Amanda Nildén adding the side’s second in the 19th minute to cut the lead to 5-2.

But Maltby seemed to dampen Tottenham’s spirits with a goal in the 26th minute, taking advantage of a scramble in the Aston Villa penalty box. Her second score – and second backflip – put the Villans ahead, 6-2.

Nildén added her second of the match in the final minute, but Aston Villa closed out the match before Spurs could do any more damage.

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