BWSL Save of the Season Presented by British Gas Winner

Arsenal keeper named award winner

Though Brighton goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie had been the busier of the two stoppers on a sun-drenched Autumnal afternoon at the Emirates Stadium, proving a formidable barrier as Arsenal looked to return to winning ways after a four-game winless run, it was a save from Daphne van Domselaar that proved to be the save of the season.

Nnadozie could do little about Olivia Smith’s deflected effort that proved to be the only goal of the game, but she had kept the Seagulls in the game with a number of valuable stops.

However, her efforts were soon overshadowed by Van Domsellar and her acrobatic save at full stretch, which showed quick reflexes, and which proved a key moment for the home side. Her efforts helped earn her side a valuable three points, and also led to her first – of two – Save of the Season Month award.

With Arsenal leading 1-0, the Dutch international was twice called into action to defend her side’s advantage. First, before half time, a reaction save to deny Kiko Seiki and then, after the break, THE one.

Brighton’s Jelena Cankovic crossed from the sunshine into the shadows to find Carla Camacho, the Spaniard unmarked in the area, and who subsequently used the pace of Cankovic’s pinpoint cross to direct her free header across goal.

Van Domselaar dived at full stretch to her right, getting enough on the ball with her right hand to steer it around the post. The 26 year old afforded herself a self-congratulatory clap before receiving deserved fist bumps and high fives from her teammates.

And rightly so, as Arsenal held on for the win.

“Daphne was so important for us in the crucial times in the game,” admitted then Gunners boss Renee Slegers. “She saves us, and she was good on the ball. So I’m really, really happy for her.”