Manchester City bounced back from successive cup defeats to secure a 4-1 win against Brighton at the Broadfield Stadium on Sunday and draw level with Chelsea at the top of the Women’s Super League. Gareth Taylor’s side completely dominated the match with Lauren Hemp, Yui Hasegawa and Laura Coombs all influential.
On Friday, Chelsea gained a three-point advantage over City after defeating Arsenal 3-1. However, that lead has now been diminished, with only goal difference distinguishing the two teams. In light of City’s victory, Taylor emphasized the importance of focusing on one game at a time. In an interview with BBC Sport, he stated, “We just focus on the next game and keep things simple. That’s the best approach. We only concern ourselves with what we can control.”
The current frustration is that if we do not let in any goals and instead score one at the end, we will secure the top spot in the league. This was stated by the manager of Manchester City after his team bounced back from defeats in the FA Cup against Tottenham and the Continental Cup against Chelsea. The team was initially leading the league, but fell behind by six points. However, within two games, they were able to make a remarkable comeback, which is a testament to their hard work and determination.
Hemp scored the first goal in the 27th minute thanks to a brilliant assist from Jess Park, which caught the Brighton defence off guard. Just before halftime, Mary Fowler extended City’s lead after finding herself with ample room in the penalty area.
After the break, Manchester City continued to dominate the game with goals from Khadija Shaw and Coombs. Despite a late goal from Lee Geum-min for the hosts, the scoreline remained in City’s favor.
Mikey Harris, Brighton’s temporary manager, was eager to highlight the positives after the match, including the impressive performance of 16-year-old Grace McEwen, who made her debut. Harris expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I am delighted that Grace had her WSL debut today. This will be a memorable experience for her, especially facing such a formidable opponent in Shaw. It will undoubtedly be a valuable addition to her journey.”
At Leigh Sports Village, Manchester United achieved a 2-0 victory over Bristol City with Lisa Naalsund scoring both goals. Despite their early lead, United faced strong opposition from Bristol City and maintained a one-goal lead for most of the game under the guidance of Marc Skinner. However, in the 82nd minute, Jamie-Lee Napier received a second yellow card which resulted in her being sent off, leading to a turning point in the match. In the added time, Naalsund secured the win with another goal.
Liverpool defeated West Ham 3-1 in their recent match. Leanne Kiernan scored the first goal in the 41st minute, followed by Missy Bo Kearns in the second half. Sophie Román Haug then secured the win with a well-placed shot, although West Ham managed to score a last-minute goal by Riko Ueki.
Tottenham secured a 1-0 victory over Leicester with a goal from Sweden’s Matilda Vinberg, who capitalized on a cross from Jessica Naz just two minutes into the game.
Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chelsea Women | 16 | 34 | 40 |
2 | Man City Women | 16 | 32 | 40 |
3 | Arsenal Women | 16 | 17 | 34 |
4 | Man Utd Women | 16 | 15 | 28 |
5 | Liverpool FC Women | 16 | 4 | 28 |
6 | Tottenham Hotspur Women | 16 | -7 | 22 |
7 | Aston Villa Women | 16 | -11 | 19 |
8 | Leicester Women | 16 | -10 | 16 |
9 | Everton Women | 16 | -15 | 14 |
10 | Brighton & Hove Albion Women | 16 | -16 | 14 |
11 | West Ham Women | 16 | -16 | 12 |
12 | Bristol City Women | 16 | -27 | 6 |
Source: theguardian.com