The Barclays Women’s Super League returned to American Express Stadium as Brighton & Hove Albion hosted Manchester United for an exciting afternoon of league action.
A first half goal from Grace Clinton was enough to put Manchester United ahead at the break, before former Red Devil Nikita Parris found the equaliser for Brighton to draw proceedings level at the Amex.
The Lineups
BHA: Baggaley; Thorisdottir, Pattinson, Bergsvand, Losada, Bremer, Parris, Kirby, Carabali, Olislagers, Vilamala
MUN: Tullis-Joyce; George, Le Tissier, Janssen, Turner, Bizet, Naalsund, Miyazawa, Clinton, Toone, Terland
The Action
A stellar save from Sophie Baggaley saved the Seagulls in the early stages, after former Brighton star Elisabeth Terland located Hinata Miyazawa down the left channel. Miyazawa picked out her strike with composure, buta diving Baggaley saw the play palmed away from the bottom-right corner.
Manchester United would claim the early lead as Celin Bizet located Grace Clinton on the near post, whose clinical touch found the back of the net for the opening goal in just the 9th minute of play. The goal marks Clinton’s third goal and Bizet’s third assist for the season, as the former Tottenham duo continue to flex her muscles under the management of Marc Skinner.
Clinton had an opportunity for a second just minutes later, as she weaved through the Brighton last line and fired an ambitious effort with her opposite foot from outside of the area. The strike was only denied by the crossbar, as Baggaley did well to recover and block Miyazawa’s effort on the rebound.
An impressive long ball over the top from Bizet found Terland advancing into space, but the trouble was swept away by Baggaley as she touched the ball away before slamming it away from danger and into the stands.
Brighton were forced to make a change before the break as Pauline Bremer went down injured near the halfway line. Madison Haley entered the field as the Seagulls continued their search for an equaliser.
Goalkeeping heroics from Phallon Tullis-Joyce managed to preserve the lead for United, as Fran Kirby located Haley inside of the area. Haley looked likely to find the back of the net, but a fingertip save from Tullis-Joyce managed to deny her of the equaliser on the stroke of half time.
Brighton found their equaliser in good time after the break, as half-time substitute Maisie Symonds fired a cross inside of the area to be met by the head of Nikita Parris who sent the net rippling from close range. The former United striker celebrated with the Seagulls army as proceedings were back to level terms in the 51st minute.
After what as a period of Brighton dominance, Manchester United began to regain their composure inside of the final 15 minutes. Clinton swung in a opportunistic ball inside of the area, though the cross only went as far as Baggaley who collected the entry in the air. Controversy saw Terland appealling for a penalty after what she claimed to be a push, but nothing was awarded from referee Stacey Fullicks.
United had another opportunity to grab the lead as Ella Toone struck from distance, but it was Baggaley who would once again deny the effort with a diving save.
End to end football continued to entertain at the AMEX, as Kirby’s miraculous strike from effort looked set for the net before a stretching save from Tullis-Joyce managed to keep scores level with just minutes left on the clock.
The excellent display of goalkeeping continued to prevail as Terland’s promising volley was once again denied by a diving Baggaley between the goalposts.
Both sides were made to settle for a draw, as the one-point advantage fires Manchester United to the summit of the league table before Chelsea and Manchester City play on Sunday.
