Wilms strikes late as Villa deny Brighton first WSL win

Lynn Wilms scored a late equaliser to earn Aston Villa a 1-1 draw away to Brighton in the Women's Super League.

Gabby George had given Brighton the lead at Amex Stadium on 20 September 2026. Villa refused to go away. Wilms struck near the end to quieten the home end.

George's opener set the tone, as reported by BBC Sport. Brighton play their home games at the Amex. For a long stretch, that one goal looked like it would be enough.

It was not. Brighton pushed for a second goal to make the game safe. The second never came, leaving the door open, according to BBC Sport's live coverage. In football, a 1-0 lead is fragile. One moment can wipe it out.

That moment arrived from a corner. A corner is a dead-ball chance given when the defence puts the ball behind its own goal. Villa worked the ball into the danger area and Wilms applied the finish. Scores level. Game changed.

The result keeps Brighton waiting for a first league win of the season. The Women's Super League is England's top division. Early in the campaign, wins change the mood around a club. A home draw after leading will feel like a chance missed.

For Villa, the feeling is different. To score late away from home takes calm. They did not lead. They did not need to. One well-worked set-piece earned a point on the road.

For anyone new to the game, this is why late goals hit so hard. The team ahead starts to count down. The team behind starts to believe. The noise shifts in a heartbeat.

What makes this stand out is how quickly football can turn. Brighton were minutes from celebrating. Villa were minutes from leaving with nothing. One kick from the corner flag changed both stories.

Brighton will feel the frustration. Villa will feel the lift. That swing is football as shared memory, one end quiet, the other loud, both feeling the same minute together.

Both teams will reset fast. Brighton still need that first win. Villa can build on a hard-earned draw on the south coast.