Women 1 – 0 Brighton Women – Match Report

We got back to winning ways in the Women’s Super League with a 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon. 

Olivia Smith’s first half cross was deflected into the Seagulls’ net off Marisa Olislagers, catching out Chiamaka Nnadozie in the Brighton goal. 

We created several chances throughout the remainder of the game with Stina Blackstenius hitting the crossbar in the second half, but the early own goal was enough to secure all three points in north London. 

First half

After a quiet opening eight minutes, we had the first chance at Emirates Stadium, when Caitlin Foord flicked Mariona Caldentey’s corner into the path of Olivia Smith who fired her effort just over from the edge of the penalty area. 

Moments later, we came close again as Katie McCabe’s cross almost caught out Chiamaka Nnadozie, forcing the Brighton goalkeeper to tip the ball onto the crossbar.

But in the 16th minute, we weren’t to be denied when Smith’s low cross took a favourable deflection off Marisa Olislagers, catching Nnadozie out at her near post.

Brighton came close to levelling the game midway through the first half when Kiko Seike almost got on the end of Jelena Cankovic’s ball to the far post, only to be denied by a goal line tackle from Katie McCabe.

Ueki threatened once again in the 38th minute, driving to the byline and forcing a quick reaction save from Daphne Van Domselaar. 

Second half

We started quickly once again after the break, with Katie McCabe testing Nnadozie from the edge of the penalty area early in the second half.

A few minutes later, Olivia Smith’s volley was blocked in a crowd of Brighton bodies, causing a scramble in the six-yard box which ultimately resulted in a corner.

The Seagulls almost had an equaliser on the hour mark when Carla Camacho met Cankovic’s cross with a powerful header, but Van Domselaar made an excellent diving save to keep us ahead.

We made a triple substitution midway through the half, bringing on Stina Blackstenius, Beth Mead and Kyra Cooney-Cross. It wasn’t until nine minutes later our substitutes got their first touches however, as a head injury to Maelys Mpome caused a lengthy delay.

Our best chance of the second half came from a corner in the 80th minute, when Blackstenius met McCabe’s delivery, heading onto the crossbar. 

Alessia Russo almost wrapped up the points with a volley from the edge of the penalty area, but saw her effort fly just wide of the post at the start of 13 minutes of added time. 

Blackstenius had a good opportunity in the eighth of the 13 minutes after being played through by Kim Little, but placed her effort just wide of the far post. 

What’s next

We travel to Portugal to face Benfica in our first European away day of the UEFA Women’s Champions League season at 8pm on Thursday, October 16.

After Thursday’s game, our players will go to represent their countries in the first international break of the season. 

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