Brighton survived a scare to come from behind and overcome newly promoted Charlton 5-1 at the Amex on Sunday afternoon.
Kiko Seike was twice on target after the visitors had taken a shock lead within minutes of the referee’s first whistle. At the start of the afternoon both sides were hoping for their first Barclays Women’s Super League victory of the season. Brighton came into this one having failed to win any of their first four league matches. Arturo Ruiz’s side had only tasted victory once so far this campaign, at home to the same opponents, a 4-0 win in the Subway Players Cup late last month. Brighton were without Moeka Minami and Madison Haley with both still absent due to injury.
The Seagulls made four changes from the side that lost to to Spurs in midweek. Fran Kirby returned to the starting line up, replacing Emily Murphy up front. Bex Rayner, Marit Auée, Sophie Peskett and Emilie Joramo also dropped out. In their places came first team regulars, Olaug Tvedten, Lia Wälti, Jelna Čanković and Gabby George. Captain Masie Symonds started and in the process overtook Kayleigh Barton as the player to have represented Brighton the most in the WSL, on her 87th WSL outing for the Seagulls.
Charlton remained rooted to the foot of the WSL table and travelled to the Amex Stadium still looking for their first point. Karen Hills’ side had their most promising showing last time out, losing to league champions Manchester City by a single goal at the Valley. However they had followed that result up with a disappointing and comprehensive 3-0 defeat to South East London rivals Crystal Palace in the Subway Players Cup.
Hills shuffled the pack with eight changes from midweek, Sophie Whitehouse returned between the posts to captain the side. Ashleigh Neville also returned from her suspension after being sent off against Everton. Hawa Cissoko and Lucia Lobato also returned after impressing against Manchester City last weekend. Up front, Hills stuck with Lorena Azzaro who is still looking for her first goal in English football. Summer signing Cassandra Korhonen from HB Køge also started on the wing with Australia duo Emily van Egmond and Leah Davidson in midfield. Kiera Flannery and Jodie Hutton, Charlton’s only WSL goal scorer, also started on the road. Kiera Skeels, Charlotte Newsham, Linda Lif Boama and Paula Partido, all remained side-lined with injury.
The Lineups
BHA: Nnadozie; George, Vanegas, Hayes; Garcia, Wälti, Čanković, Symonds, Seike; Kirby, Tvetden,
CHA: Whitehouse; Neville, N’Dow, Lobato, Cissoko; Davidson, Flannery, Hutton, van Egmond; Korhonen, Azzaro
The Action
Charlton started the brighter of the two sides, surprising their hosts by taking an early lead within the first couple of minutes. Jodie Hutton’s inviting ball into the box was met by the foot of Korhonen, Chiamaka Nndozie saved the effort but failed to clear her lines and the the Swede gobbled up the rebound. Brighton were almost level before the twenty minute mark, a lighting run to the bye-line from Kiko Seike had her marker Lobato beaten. Seike whipped the ball into the box, met with a miskick from Olivia Garcia, fortuitously for the home side it fell to Tvetden, her effort evaded Whitehouse but not N’Dow who cleared off the line. The ball was only cleared as far as Garcia, but her header went wide of the post.
Much of Brighton’s incisive attacking play was coming through the wings, and with 22 minutes on the clock they came close again. Wälti played a smart ball down the line on the left to Garcia who accelerated past Neville. She cut the ball back to Tvetden who could only direct her effort over the bar. Charlton were beginning to struggle with the intense pressure and counter pressure Brighton enforced upon them. That pressure told with 25 minutes on the clock, again Garcia flew down the wing, her cutback found Seike, with an empty net to strike into at the far post. The scores were level at the Amex.
Brighton completely turned the game on its head after yet more outstanding wing play from Garcia just before half time. Once again she found her way to the bye-line and while her cutback was missed by Seike it was tapped in by Fran Kirby racing in behind. The home faithful breathed a huge sigh of relief.
In the second half Brighton kept their foot on the accelerator, and within 10 minutes they had their third. Seike was once again of the scoresheet finessing the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. The home side stayed busy in the Charlton half as their opponents stared another defeat in the face. Marisa Olislagers curled an effort wide from the edge of the box with five minutes to play with Brighton in control of proceedings. Olislagers and Seike threatened to add another before the end before Symonds did, directing a near post cross from Olislagers into the back of the net. The home side weren’t done there and within seconds remaining Gabby George headed home from close range to make it 5-1. A miserable afternoon for Charlton was complete.
Brighton Player Ratings
GK: Chiamaka Nnadozie – 6.5/10 – Should have done better for the opening goal to ensure the ball was out of danger. Made a couple of smart saves after.
RCB: Manuela Vanegas – 8/10 – Showed an enterprising moment of close control in the midfield in the first half to escape multiple challenges in the midfield. Won 9/9 of her duels.
CB: Gabby George – 8/10 – Forming a great partnership with Hayes, looks at home in Brighton blue. Added the finishing touches to a confidence boosting victory.
LCB: Caitlin Hayes – 7.5/10 – Composed on the ball, her passing game has improved hugely since joining Brighton. A defensive rock when required to be.
RM: Kiko Seike – 9/10 – Hustled and harried down the wings, she scored a tap in but her work rate deserved the reward of scoring Brighton’s opener. Doubled her tally for the afternoon early in the second half.
CM: Lia Wälti – 7.5/10 – Always felt like she had control of the midfield, her smart movement and excellent range of passing shone through.
DM: Maisie Symonds – 8/10 – Excellent long ball distribution to open up new angles in the Brighton attack. Scored a late goal to add insult to Charlton’s injury.
CM: Jelena Čanković – 6.5/10 – Was not really involved for most of the afternoon.
LM: Olivia Garcia – 9/10 – Felt she should have had a penalty early in the first half, was perhaps unlucky not to get the call in her favour. Extremely impressive going forward for the home side, gave the right side of the Charlton defence a torrid time. Assisted both first half goals for Brighton and had the most successful dribbles of any player.
SS: Fran Kirby – 7/10 – Struggled to get up to the pace of the game, did not appear to be on the same wavelength as her team mates. Found the back of the net and was in the right place at the right time.
ST: Olaug Tvetden – 5/10 – Made a really poor start to the match, by the 30 minute mark she had been involved in the most duels of any player but had yet to win one.
SUBS
Marisa Olislagers (60′ Čanković) – 8/10 – Had a couple of good efforts on goal, set up Symonds for a late goal, great impact from her off the bench.
Maelys Mpome (72′ Vanegas) – 6.5/10 – Mpome had a solid performance off the bench.
Emilie Joramo (72′ Wälti) – 6/10 – Joramo struggled for involvement in the minutes she was afforded on the pitch.
Emily Murphy (90′ Seike) – N/A –
Sophie Peskett (90′ Tvetden) – N/A –
Charlton Player Ratings
GK: Sophie Whitehouse – 5.5/10 – Alert and off her line to deny Brighton more than once, struggled with the ball at her feet when put under pressure.
RB: Ash Neville – 5/10 – Really struggled up against Garcia who was a livewire for the home side. Neville was hooked early in the second half after picking up a yellow card.
RCB: Elisha N’Dow – 6/10 – A little fortunate not to concede a penalty early on as she was beaten in a footrace by Garcia. Demonstrated some classy touches on the ball.
CB: Hawa Cissoko – 7.5/10 – Made an exceptional goal line clearance to deny Brighton. Had to come off injured, walked gingerly to the bench.
LB: Lucia Lobato – 6/10 – Made a couple of darting runs into Brighton territory, had her hands full with Seike all afternoon but gave as good as she got in that duel.
RM: Cassandra Korhonen – 6.5/10 – Korhonen was alive in the box, prepared for the rebound for the opening goal. She had little further involvement
CM: Kiera Flannery – 7.5/10 – Broke up the play more than once in the first half for her side, especially with the opposition in positive attacking positions. Flannery was positive playing the ball forward too with superb close control.
CM: Leah Davidson – 6/10 – A largely anonymous afternoon.
LM: Jodie Hutton – 7/10 – Hutton’s excellent cross set up the opening goal, she was physical and worked hard throughout.
CAM: Emily van Egmond – 5.5/10 – Struggled to get involved and help her side gain any ground throughout.
ST: Lorena Azzaro – 5.5/10 – Azzaro is struggling to get anything like service up front for Charlton but still she didn’t do enough when the ball came to her feet.
SUBS
Gillian Kenny (55′ Korhonen) – 6/10 – Failed to have a meaningful impact on proceedings.
Glória Siber (55′ Neville) – 6.5/10 – Met the challenge of marking Garcia far better than Neville had before her.
Katie Lockwood (75′ Van Egmond) – 5.5/10 – Struggled after coming into the match with the game already lost.
Ellie Mason (75′ Cissoko) – 5.5/10 – Charlton struggled in the absence of Cissoko conceding twice after she came off and Mason struggled to impact that outcome.
Lucy Fitzgerald (88′ Davidson) – N/A –
