A brilliant second half performance saw Brighton run out 3-2 winners over Man City to open up WSL title race once more.
Manchester City arrived at Broadfield stadium knowing a victory would take them to the brink of the first Women’s Super League (WSL) title since 2016. They require five points from their remaining three fixtures, meaning a victory against the Seagulls would mean at win at home against Liverpool the following week would crown them champions.
Brighton came into the game full of confidence following a wonderful FA Cup quarterfinal victory at Arsenal before the international break, and sitting strongly in 6th position, looking to extend the gap to London City Lionesses.
Brighton boss Dario Vidošić named the same team that dumped Arsenal out of the FA Cup almost three weeks ago, hoping for a similar shock this weekend.
Andree Jeglertz made five changes to the Manchester City side that beat Birmingham City 1-0 in the FA Cup earlier this month. Ayaka Yamashita returned in goal, while Rebecca Knaak, Kerstin Casparij, Laura Blinkilde Brown and Kerolin all came in. Khiara Keating, Laura Coombs, Leila Ouahabi and Iman Beney dropped to the bench, whilst Sam Coffey missed out. Vivianne Miedema is unavailable because of personal reasons.
The Lineups
BHA: Nnadozie; Minami, Hayes, Vanegas, Rule; Cankovic, Symonds, Olislagers; Haley, Kirby, Seike
MCI: Yamashita; Casparij, Rose, Knaak, Greenwood; Hasegawa, Blindkilde, Fujino, Kerolin, Hemp, Shaw
The Action
It was almost the dream start for title-chasing Manchester City as Moeka Minami shortchanged a pass back to keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie that allowed Bunny Shaw to steal in. The Brighton keeper prevented Shaw from shooting, but it rolled to Aova Fujino who hit the side-netting from an angle. Manchester City showing from the off how they intended to approach the match.
The intense start from Manchester City continued as Brighton struggled in the early stages, particularly playing out from the back. The first goal of the game was therefore not far away, and it arrived with just five minutes played. Brighton lost the ball again playing out from the back and after Caitlin Hayes failed to clear the initial chance, the ball fell to Kerolin ,who on the edge of the box fired a shot into the top right corner. A thoroughly deserved lead for Manchester City.
The league leaders continued to apply the pressure and came just centimetres from doubling their lead just three minutes later. Khadija Shaw collected a wonderful ball from Lauren Hemp on her chest and one on one with the Brighton keeper, fired her shot into the foot of the post. Brighton would have been counting their luck stars it was only 1-0 in these early exchanges.
Brighton eventually ventured forward for the first time in the game with ten minutes gone on the clock. Brighton with there first real attack of the game nearly equalise. Fran Kirby found Seike on the right hand side, who then continued her run, and her deflected shot was saved well by Yamashita, the Manchester City keeper.
Bunny Shaw missed another huge chance for Manchester City with half an hour gone. The first real chance in a while for City. Shaw was slipped through on goal again by Lauren Hemp, but her first touch takes her too wide and she can’t find the finish required.
It was then goal scorer Kerloin’s turn to miss another golden opportunity for the league leaders. Kerolin missed a huge chance to double the Manchester City lead. Bunny Shaw placed a perfect through ball to Kerloin, who one on one forced the Brighton keeper into a good save to deny a brace for the Manchester City forward. Kerolin will have been disappointed to have not done more with the chance. Manchester City had lost that clinical edge since their fast and ferocious start, leaving the door still slightly ajar for Brighton.
In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Brighton burst that door open. A brilliant move from Brighton, which included a fantastic flick from Fran Kirby to set Haley. From that moment she was composure personified, as she calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner and bring the Seagulls level, punishing a wasteful Manchester City side.
The second half started, just like the first, with a bang and saw Brighton take a shock lead. Fran Kirby, who has been the standout player for Brighton so far, slipped a wonderful ball in behind Alex Greenwood, into the onrushing Seike, who from an angle produced an outrageous finish into the roof of the net, leaving the Manchester City keeper with no chance.
It continued to be Brighton who looked threatening going forward. They missed a huge chance with an hour gone to lead by two, after a ball over the top to goal scorer Haley who hits her shot straight into the onrushing Yamashita. Will Brighton now be the team to rue their missed chances?
No is the answer as Haley herself grabs her brace and doubles Brighton’s advantage. Seike is found on the right-hand side and drives into the box, pulls it back to Hayley who’s first shot is saved well, but through shear willingness and determination, heads in the rebound. Brighton had been far the better team in this second half and had left Manchester City a mountain to climb.
With 85 minutes gone, Bunny Shaw threw Manchester City a lifeline finding the back of the net for the 19th time this season. Shaw was played in behind by Iman Beney, whose first time shot hit the bottom left corner. A brilliant finish from the Manchester City striker, who gave the sky blues a chance to turn things around late on.
Brighton held on however to a more than deserved victory. A brilliant few weeks for this team, who for the first time in their history have beaten Manchester City on home turf. For the league leaders, it’s a setback as they lose only their third game of the season. The WSL title is still in Manchester City’s hands, and despite the dent in confidence, should have enough to pull through, but they will certainly need to improve their level of performance for the final two games.
Brighton Player Ratings
Chiamaka Nnadozie – 8/10 – A solid performance from the Brighton keeper. Made some big saves in the first half, that ensured Brighton stayed in the game.
Moeka Minami – 7/10 – A more than competent performance against such a dangerous attack in Manchester City.
Caitlin Hayes – 6/10 – Performed well overall but provided a bad clearance for Manchester City’s first goal.
Manuela Vanegas – 6/10 – Struggled to really impose herself on the game but still executed many actions well throughout.
Charlize Rule – 5/10 – Similarly to Vanegas as she struggled to make her mark. Could have also been sent off for a hair pull and will be counting her lucky stars there is no VAR. Taken off at half time.
Jelena Cankovic – 6/10 – Was everywhere on the pitch, always looking to advance the ball into the final third, showcased by her long ball ability.
Maisie Symonds – 6/10 – Another assured performance from the English midfielder.
Marisa Olislagers – 6/10 – A decent showing, with not much to write home about.
Madison Haley – 9/10 – Scored a really good brace that sunk the league leaders. Showed initiative constantly, always looking to create and open opportunities. Showcased her composure and determination for both of her goals.
Kirby – 9/10 – The 7-time WSL winner, provided two brilliant assists to top of a top-class display. She was the creative spark that Brighton needed and provided many moments of excellence to create a wonderful afternoon for Brighton.
Kiko Seike – 8/10 – Produced a wonderful finish to add Brighton’s third and take the game away from Manchester City. A real spark.
Manchester City Player Ratings
Ayaka Yamashita – 7/10 – Made some good saves in both halves and not much she could’ve done with the goals conceded.
Kerstin Casparij – 5/10 – Really didn’t impact the game at all and was the only defender withdrawn throughout the game.
Jade Rose – 6/10 – Made a few important defensive contributions but struggled to really impact the game in a positive way.
Rebecca Knaak – 6/10 – Struggled to deal with Brighton’s attack and missed a glorious chance to equalise, just moments after Manchester City got their second.
Alex Greenwood – 7/10 – Attempted to rally her teammates as captain and nearly succeeded. Showed imitative a few times to take the ball herself and drive forward but came to no avail.
Yui Hasegawa – 6/10 – Had the most touches in the game, and was always looking to impact it some way both defensively and offensively.
Laura Blindkilde – 6/10 – Would have wanted to have been much more involved than she was and help her team overturn the deficit.
Aoba Fujino – 7/10 – Was a bright spark for Manchester City on the right hand side, but would have been disappointed not to have been on the score sheet within the first 30 seconds.
Kerolin – 6/10 – Scored a deserved goal and took her finish well but would also have been annoyed not to have doubled their lead, and maybe take the game away from Brighton.
Lauren Hemp – 8/10 – Manchester City’s best player throughout the game, who’s full of confidence. Always provided on out ball and continuously was the spark Manchester City needed.
Khadija Shaw – 7/10 – Was desperately unlucky to hit the post and took her finish well but would have wanted to make more of an impact with the chances she had.
