This was an important and crucial game week for the 3 teams fighting at the top of the league, with the title fight still going strong with Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal. Manchester United were also looking for a win in the hopes of securing European football. Read on to hear about all the latest WSL news and scores, including a 10 goal game, and the North London Derby.
Man City vs Everton – 2-1
Manchester City faced Everton on Friday at home, hoping to get those much needed 3 points and some positive goal difference in their battle for the title.
This game was not the best performance we have seen from Man City, with a very sluggish looking team, with no strong front and back lines, allowing Everton to put up a fight and manage to net a goal. Man City will be disappointed in not scoring more goals, considering that this title could go down to goal difference.
Bunny Shaw was the first player to find the back of the net, after making use of a mistake from Everton’s Justine Vanhaevermaet who took too long to get the ball out of the penalty box, allowing Shaw to take the ball and get it past keeper, Courtney Brosnan. Lauren Hemp came up with a second goal for the blues, with a far out accurate shot. Everton’s Hanna Bennison managed to sneak one past Khiara Keating on the hour mark, finding the top corner from 25 yards.
This game result means City remain level with Chelsea with just 7 games remaining. Everton put up a good fight, giving their top 10 finish a more hopeful outlook.
Arsenal vs Tottenham – 1-0
The Emirates was set for another sell out crowd, for a highly contested NLD. If Arsenal won, they would remain in the tight title fight, and if Tottenham won, they would have beaten Arsenal both home and away.
The first half was a long one for Arsenal, with plenty of missed chances despite having 63% possession and 10 corners. At this point, most fans were beginning to loose hope, until Beth Mead and Alessia Russo appeared in the box together and managed to slot a ball past Becky Spence after a pinball in the box.
Tottenham weren’t without chances, with Jessica Naz almost scoring, and Grace Clinton putting in an impressive performance.
With a record attendance for the Arsenal at home, the weekend could not have unfurled better for them, and with the title still within their grasp, will they manage to claw the title back.
Bristol vs Brighton – 3-7
In one of the biggest score lines, with 10 goals scored throughout the 97 minutes. The game was to cause ramifications for the bottom half of the table, with Bristol needing the points to get out of the relegation zone, and Brighton needing points to stay well out of the relegation battle.
The first half saw just 2 goals, with Brighton leading the charge after Elisabeth Terland opened the scoring within 20 minutes, followed by Bremer who managed a goal just 4 minutes later, putting the victors 2 goals ahead at the break.
As the players headed back onto the pitch, Megan Connolly manged to net a foal after a fantastic free kick from the side, just 7 minutes into the second half. The Seagulls managed 2 more goals from Terland and Pinto before Bristol could get another chance at a goal. As the game crept into the dying stages, Brooke Aspin and Amalie Thestrup managed to find away through the wall of defenders to net goals for their side bringing to the difference down to just 1 goal, and with a chance of bring the game level. The final goals came in stoppage time from Vicky Losada and Katie Robinson, who cemented their teams win over city.
The next few games will be crucial for both sides, as they remain fighting for a spot in next years WSL, but with a big loss to Bristol’s campaign this weekend, it appears Bristol may be dropping right back into the championship.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool – 1-4
A mid table squabble lied ahead for Villa and Liverpool, as the two teams looked to cement their places in the mid table, and get some much needed points to take Villa clear of the relegation zone. Liverpool have been impressive so far this season, so many eyes were on the side, as they looked to take the fight to Manchester Untied for 4th in the standings.
It took both teams some time to find their rhythms in the game, but Grace Fisk found her footing, and a way past Van Domselaar to net the ball within 17 minutes if the whistle blowing. Sophie Roman Haug also wanted in on the action and snuck one past the defence, with a close range header just before the half hour mark. Villa were then given a penalty just before the half time break, giving Sarah Mayling the chance to score and get a goal on the board for her team.
Liverpool came out of the second half fighting, with Koivisto managing to net 2 past Van Domselaar, in the 60th and 82nd minute.
Villa have now won just 1 game in 7 home WSL games this season, after absence’s from 2 key players, Rachel Daly and Adriana Leon. But with possession and shots all being pretty equal and in Villa’s favour, they will be scratching their heads wondering where their finishing was today, and how they can scrape back any kind of rewards in this tough championship.
Leicester City vs Chelsea – 0-4
Leicester faced a big game on Sunday evening, with league leaders Chelsea coming to Leicester to get their title charge extended.
It was a slow start for the leaders, with their first goal not appearing until the 38th minute when Natalie Bjorn found the back of the net after fighting through a tough Leicester wall. With a second coming from them just 7 minutes later by Mayra Ramirez who scored her first WSL goal for the side.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd netted the team’s first second half goal just 20 minutes after they got back under way, followed by Catarina Macario who scored the 4th and final goal, after the US national managed to score her first goal after tearing her ACL in 2022.
Chelsea weren’t awfully dominate within the game, but the win does leave them top of the league, with City and Arsenal following closely behind.
In a record breaking weekend, the goals were high and energy levels even bigger. With more big games coming on Wednesday in the continental cup, players and staff will be doing all they can to stay relaxed and poised for some more entertaining games.