Brighton registered their first win in the Women’s Super League since September by comfortably seeing off visitors Leicester City at the American Express Stadium.
After repelling early pressure from the Foxes, the hosts went ahead through Madison Haley in the 27th minute before Maelys Mpome doubled their advantage only two minutes into the second half.
Shannon O’Brien struck for the second game running to halve the deficit for Leicester in the 75th minute but Marisa Olislagers and Kiko Seike scored late on to secure a valuable three points for the Seagulls.
Leicester had made a bright start and produced enough chances to kill the game off inside 25 minutes, but Brighton had goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie to thank for keeping them alive in the game.
The Nigeria international palmed away Jutta Rantala’s powerful effort from Hannah Cain’s cross early on and also saved from O’Brien, who was played through and looked certain to score.
Nnadozie also came off her line to deny Rantala’s attempt to chip the keeper before Brighton struck at the opposite end.
Moments after Seike had seen her volley rattle the crossbar, the Japanese forward released Haley inside the box and the American clipped the ball over onrushing goalkeeper Janina Leitzig to make it 1-0.
Brighton scored again after the half-time break as they stole possession high up the pitch and ran rings around the Leicester defence before Mpome’s shot beat the diving Leitzig.
O’Brien produced a neat finish into the far corner after getting on the end of a rare second-half chance for Leicester to reduce the deficit.
But Olislagers struck from the edge of the box to restore Brighton’s two-goal advantage with three minutes remaining before Seike bagged a deserved goal, netting on the rebound after Maisie Symonds’ initial strike was saved by Leitzig.
With their first win in five games, the Seagulls move up to seventh place with 11 points from nine games while Leicester are ninth with six points – only four ahead of bottom side Liverpool.