A roundup of the weekend’s Barclays WSL Matchweek 20

Matchweek 20 in the BWSL

Matchweek 20’s games this past weekend delivered some high-scoring games and the odd surprise result or two with this late stage of the season throwing up results that impact both ends of the table in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

Brighton started everything off with a win to stun the league leaders Manchester City and keep the title race alive for at least another week, while Chelsea strengthened their top three hopes and Manchester United failed to take a step forward in their target of achieving the same thing.

Down at the bottom, West Ham managed to put more breathing space between themselves and Leicester City as they secured a vital win against Liverpool. Whereas Leicester fell to a heavy defeat at the hands of London City Lionesses to put them potentially on the brink of having to play in the relegation play-off at the end of the season.

Only two more weekends of football remain before the season comes a conclusion, so here is the roundup of the action that happened in Matchweek 20’s weekend games.

Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester City

Saturday’s game saw a surprise result as Brighton and Hove Albion recorded a home victory over the current Barclays WSL leaders Manchester City, with it ending 3-2 to the Seagulls as Madison Haley scored twice in either half, and Kiko Seike scoring the goal that ended up putting Brighton in front after initially being behind.

It was a sunny lunchtime at Broadfield Stadium and heading into this game, it had been looking like Manchester City were right on the brink of confirming themselves as this season’s league champions. Although they couldn’t be confirmed after this weekend, they effectively were able to put their hands on the trophy with a win. However, Brighton turned it around and claimed the three points with a strong performance despite finishing the game behind on most stats as Man City registered 17 shots to Brighton’s nine in total.

The away side had started the better of the two sides and took the lead through Kerolin in the fifth-minute after a cross was not dealt with by Brighton, and the Brazilian international looped a shot into the top left corner to make it nine goals for herself in the WSL this season. City could have made it two in quick succession after Khadija Shaw hit the post with a low shot at goal.

A few efforts came from Brighton not too long later Ayaka Yamashita having to save down low at her near post to deny Fran Kirby an equaliser. Things did calm down a bit more as the first half played on, with Andrée Jeglertz’s side in control and still creating chances including a 1v1 attempt that Kerolin will have rued not scoring past Chiamaka Nnadozie.

Man City also would have been aware of the threat that Brighton could still offer when behind, and that was made evident at the end of the half when Brighton found their equaliser. Charlie Rule found Fran Kirby with a pass and then was able to lay it off to Madison Haley with an amazing touch, before Haley then faked a shot initially before firing low into the bottom corner to bring the game level in added time of the opening 45.

Brighton had responded well and didn’t take long before beginning the second half on the front foot either as Kiko Seike put the home side in front. The Japanese forward got into space down the right side and drove towards the area before firing the ball into the goal to turn this game around in favour of Dario Vidosic’s side. The goal for Seike meant she became the first Brighton player to have ever scored in four consecutive Barclays WSL appearances, and it also puts her on eight for this campaign.

The Seagulls never let Manchester City off at 2-1, and it took 18 minutes to find a third after a couple of other chances they were able to mount against the league leaders. Madison Haley was able to add in her second of the game after her first effort was saved by Yamashita in goal. They played with more of a direct approach that put more pressure onto Manchester City’s backline and stretched them, which seemingly didn’t make Andrée Jeglertz’s side look entirely comfortable in the second half.

With the scores at 3-1 it meant that Brighton had to see the game out, and they were able to do so even with Khadija Shaw making it 3-2 to turn the pressure back onto the home side. The 19th league goal of the season for Shaw as shrugged off two players and found the bottom corner with a well-placed chance.

It was too little too late for City however, and Brighton held on for a historic win for themselves that meant that they kept their place in sixth with 24 points now in the Barclays WSL table. A third defeat this season for Manchester City deals a small blow to their potential title celebrations, with a six-point gap now on Chelsea and an eleven-point gap to Arsenal, who can still catch them.

Everton vs Chelsea

A ruthless second half from Chelsea gave them an important victory in their aim to finish in the top three places of the table as they put four past Everton at Goodison Park, with Sam Kerr scoring twice to help her make a bit of history this weekend, followed by goals from Ellie Carpenter and Erin Cuthbert.

More sun shone down this weekend as Goodison Park was treated to a lot of goals on Sunday lunchtime. The only thing was that the brunt of them came from the away team as Sonia Bompastor’s side found their shooting boots as they look to strengthen their position in the top three, while also thinking about how they could close the gap down to Manchester City at the top of the league.

Much of the game was dominated by Chelsea in terms of possession, with 65% going to Chelsea and also 27 shots in total, with ten of them being on target. 56 touches in the opposition penalty box highlights how often they were able to threaten in the final third, and it took them six minutes to find the opener as Sam Kerr scored her first of the game following a through-ball by Erin Cuthbert.

Chelsea lead was short-lived as Everton responded back with a stunning equaliser scored by Yuka Momiki, after the Toffees worked the fast break opportunity into a goal-scoring effort with Claire Wheeler finding Momiki, who then turns and runs into space before she shoots from 35-yards out and beats Hannah Hampton with one of the goals of the weekend.

The remainder of the first half saw Chelsea put on the pressure again and went close with a number of chances where Courtney Brosnan needed to be called upon for some important saves to deny efforts by Keira Walsh, Alyssa Thompson and Sjoeke Nüsken. Brosnan ended the game with five saves in total and all of them were in the first 45 minutes.

They looked to continue where they left off, but it was Everton who had the first chance of the second half, and it was one that full-back Maz Pacheco would have regretted not scoring as she diverted a cross from Toni Payne onto the crossbar and over from a couple of yards out. Barely any time later, Chelsea took the lead again as Sam Kerr scored her second of the game after a perfect pass from Lauren James found the Australian who hit the first-time shot past Brosnan to make it 2-1.

A top performance from Sam Kerr had the added stat that with the two goals scored this past weekend taking her level with Fran Kirby for the record-most Barclays WSL goals for the club (63). While not one of her highest-scoring seasons in the Barclays WSL, she has continued to show her value to Chelsea and is on to five now for this campaign. She could have had a sixth after one effort was deemed to have been blocked on the goal line by Pacheco, which on replay looked like it had crossed the line.

A clinical second half secured the all-important three points after Ellie Carpenter got the third, converting from Alyssa Thompson’s pass across the box, and then Erin Cuthbert fired in a half-volley from the edge of the area. The result makes it four-straight wins in all competitions for Chelsea, and no defeat in the Barclays WSL since their 5-1 loss to Manchester City back in February. They have hit form right when they have needed to and it keeps them in a strong position to finish in the Women’s Champions League places.

Meanwhile for Everton, it’s a third-straight loss after they had gone on a four-game winning streak in the league. Scott Phelan’s side stay in eighth place after this weekend’s result, but it does take a blow to any hopes of finishing higher after the wins for Brighton and London City Lionesses above them.

London City Lionesses vs Leicester City

Despite going behind early on, London City Lionesses were able to turn the game around at home to Leicester City, and they ended up piling more worries on the bottom of the table side as they won by five goals to one, with Eder Maestre’s side recording their largest win of the season.

Five different goal scorers were on the scoresheet for London City, but they didn’t score the opener as Shannon O’Brien put Leicester City in front after half an hour, when a pass by Lucia Corrales was latched onto in a dangerous area by Leicester forward O’Brien. It was the fourth goal of the campaign for O’Brien, who has been one of the players Leicester City have looked to for goals this season, and she has scored four of the ten that they have converted this season.

The lead did not last long for Leicester City as it was two minutes later when Lucía Corrales levelled the game. It all started straight from the kick-off from when they went behind, and after some build up play on the left side, Corrales looped a cross that went to the back post and over the head of goalkeeper Olivia Clark and into the goal. It’s the first one London City have scored last Leicester all season after they were beaten in the reverse fixture back in December 1-0.

London City worked to complete the turnaround before half-time and were able to make sure it was done as a corner went in and despite several Leicester players defending on the goal line, plus a failed attempt to clear their lines, Isobel Goodwin was able to find the net and make it 2-1 to her side. For Goodwin it was a continuation of her form that she had showed with the England under-23s over the international break when she scored twice across their two games.

Chances were hard to come by for Leicester City in the first half as they found themselves limited to two shots in total, and even London City Lionesses were only able to muster up six of their own. Things would step up more in the second half as London City looked to put the game away from Leicester’s reach, with Rick Passmor’s side desperately needing to find a way back into the game.

It was all London City Lionesses however at the start of the second half, and after a few blocked efforts in the minutes prior to their third, Malou Marcetto gave her team a two-goal lead from a couple of yards out for a tap-in following the assist from Lucia Corrales who continued to have some involvement in her team’s attacking play given how often she was able to get forward for her side.

Eder Maestre’s side never let off at 3-1 either, and it took a bit more time in the second half before they scored their next goals in quick succession of each other. The first to make it 4-1 to the home side came via another pass from the edge of the box after some build up between Poppy Pattinson and María Pérez ended with a through ball to Isobel Goodwin, who then found Grace Geyoro for a finish in the centre of the box. The fifth goal would come from substitute Freya Godfrey to add her fifth goal of the season, after some quick reactions by the England international following a missed attempt by Leicester City goalkeeper Olivia Clark to parry it away from the incoming cross.

Statistics at the end of the game reflect what was a one-sided matchup in London City’s favour as they outperformed their opponents on all the attacking stats and had more overall possession with 63%. They made the most of their threats in the final third and also ended a five-game winless streak in the Women’s Super League with this convincing win that leaves them still within range of being able to finish as high as fifth.

As for Leicester City, their hopes of avoiding a last-place finish took a huge blow after this massive defeat. It means that the Foxes have lost eight successive games, and it is the longest streak they have had without a win since going ten games without a win between May 2022 and December 2022. They end the weekend seven points behind West Ham United in 11th-place after their win over Liverpool, with the midweek game-in-hand to play away from home against Arsenal up next, and it is must win otherwise they will be confirmed to finish in last place for this season.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United

At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it ended all-square at 0-0 between Tottenham and Manchester United, and it is a result that has meant Manchester United have climbed back into the top three for the time being, a point ahead of Arsenal.

Because of Arsenal’s games in hand, Marc Skinner’s team would have wanted to have picked up the victory away from home to boost their chances of a top three finish. But they found themselves holding out for a goalless draw, with Tottenham being the team that dominated much of the proceedings. The stats told the story of just how much Tottenham were able to have so many shots during the game, although the downside to that will have been how they were unable to capitalise on the opportunities they created.

22 shots was the total Spurs ended with, whereas Man Utd mustered up ten, but nine of them came in the second half after a lacklustre opening 45 saw them only register one shot in total, registering an xG of 0.46. Tottenham also had 65% possession in the first half as well which reflected on the overall control they were able to have over their opponents.

Martin Ho’s side were without their top scorer in the league this season Bethany England, and it meant they had to look elsewhere for the source of inspiration to find the back of the net. The likes of Signe Gaupset, Maika Hamano and Olivia Holdt all performed well and had opportunities in the first half, plus a header by Cathinka Tandberg looped over the bar.

Phallon Tullis-Joyce was able to withstand a lot of pressure that was faced at her in this game, making a total of five saves during the 90 minutes. In having avoided conceding a goal, it took her onto seven clean sheets for the season in the Barclays WSL, which does rank her level with Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton with the most overall in this campaign.

For the second half, Melvine Malard came on for Manchester United and offered the impact that they required as their tempo increased and they got much more possession, but they still lacked any effective play for the majority of times they did get into the final third. Malard went close in the 55th minute, but her shot was hit straight at Lize Kop as she drove towards goal.

Ella Toone made her return for United midway through the second half after being out with a hip injury since December, and it was a few minutes later when Tottenham ramped up the pressure again and went incredibly close to breaking the deadlock, as Holdt, Gaupset and Ella Morris all had chances to score, and Drew Spence glanced an opportunity just wide of the goal from close range. The last two main chances came for Ella Toone with one attempt from 25-yards that was saved by Kop, and Lenna Gunning-Williams went through on goal in added time but couldn’t get a strong enough effort off to test Tullis-Joyce.

The draw does end Tottenham’s run of four defeats in a row in all competitions, and they do remain in fifth place. Plus, they only require two more points to match their best-ever points total in the Barclays WSL. As for Manchester United, it is four games without a win in all comps, and also back-to-back league games without scoring.

Liverpool vs West Ham United

Victory for West Ham United away from home brought to an end a five-game winless run in all competitions as they beat Liverpool by a goal to nil at the St Helens Stadium. It’s a result that raises their hopes of avoiding a last-place finish and having to play in the end of season relegation play-off.

Rita Guarino’s side do stay in 11th-place, but now have a seven-point gap over Leicester City at the bottom of the table with a game in hand, and their performance was one where they showed strong, defensive solidity as they allowed Liverpool to have most of the possession, but stifled the clear-cut chances they were able to create at goal.

The only goal of the game came very early on as Viviane Asseyi’s corner found its way into the goal via a touch off Liverpool’s Cornelia Kapocs, which came after Shekiera Martinez rose up highest for a header and the ball went in off the leg of their Swedish midfielder.

One stat that has troubled Liverpool in the Barclays WSL for a while now is whenever they concede first, as in their last ten league fixtures when they have conceded the opening goal, they have failed to go on and turn the game around and win. This was the first they had conceded the opening goal in one of their games since they lost to Chelsea over a month ago, and even then, the only game they conceded in between that one and Sunday’s fixture was the previous game when they beat Everton 3-2.

Things did pick up for Liverpool, and Cornelia Kapocs looked to make amends for the accidental own goal, but she couldn’t get on the end of a cross by Ceri Holland that could have brought the game level. Up the other end, Asseyi was threatening again and had two efforts, one blocked and one saved by Jennifer Falk.

Some of Liverpool’s better chances in the second half both ended up being cleared off the line as West Ham defender Estelle Cascarino produced some vital stops on the goal line. Two headers respectively by Grace Fisk and Alice Bergström were covered by her as she found herself in the right place at the right time to keep the game at 1-0 to her team. The French defender was a star for West Ham in this game, in registering seven defensive contributions, five of which were recoveries.

Overall, West Ham managed to make 30 clearances and were successful in winning 57% of their aerial duels as part of this resolute display from a defensive point of view. Made more impressive as well when considering the result is only the second game they have managed to end with a clean sheet this season in the league. The first being against Manchester United last month.

The win looks like one that is massive for them in being able to ease their concerns of survival, and also for Liverpool, while it is a defeat this weekend that brings to an end a run of five wins in all competitions, they are still eight points ahead of the bottom in 10th spot and aren’t far away from confirming their place in the Barclays Women’s Super League next season.