WSL Round-Up: Man City Starts Strong, Arsenal Edges Leicester, Late Drama at Villa

Manchester City Secures Narrow Victory over Brighton

In the 2024/25 Women’s Super League (WSL) season, Manchester City achieved their first victory against Brighton, with Khadija Shaw scoring just before halftime. Despite their 1-0 win, City was left to ponder what could have been, having registered a staggering 23 attempts at goal. Manager Gareth Taylor will be relieved that his team’s inaccuracy did not cost them this time.

Match Overview

Manchester City's Lauren Hemp showcased her creativity on the left wing, which resulted in the vital goal. Full-back Kerstin Casparij made a well-placed run, receiving a pass from Hemp and delivering a perfect cross for Shaw to convert, emphasizing City’s attacking intent.

Everton Shows Improvement Despite Loss to Manchester United

After facing a crushing defeat to Brighton in their previous match, Everton faced Manchester United and displayed a better effort, though they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat. The match began ominously for them with Grace Clinton scoring for United in the fourth minute after a defensive blunder by Everton's Justine Vanhaevermat.

Key Moments

• Everton's Inma Gabarro nearly equalized but was denied by a goal-line clearance.
• A serious injury sidelined Gabarro following a clash with Leah Galton.

Despite the loss, this performance signified a step forward for Brian Sorensen's squad, especially noted as they regrouped after a previous challenging matchup.

Arsenal Claim Hard-Fought Win Over Leicester

Arsenal managed to secure their first win of the season in a closely contested match against Leicester City. Frida Maanum's 55th-minute goal, a product of a mistake by Leicester’s Catherine Bott, proved pivotal. Alessia Russo’s intelligent play set Maanum up for the tap-in.

Match Statistics

• Arsenal dominated possession but had difficulties breaking down Leicester’s defense.
• Leicester came close to equalizing with a strike on the bar and missed chances in the second half.

As a result, Arsenal now sits in fourth place, while Leicester remains eighth despite a spirited performance.

Late Drama as Aston Villa and Tottenham Share Points

A thrilling match between Aston Villa and Tottenham resulted in a dramatic 2-2 draw. Tottenham initially took the lead through Eveliina Summanen’s penalty but saw Villa turn the game around momentarily with goals from Adriana Leon and Rachel Daly.

Match Highlights

• Substitute Beth England equalized in the dying moments, showcasing her knack for being in the right place at the right time.
• The back-and-forth nature of the match kept fans on the edge of their seats.

West Ham Earn Draw Against Liverpool

West Ham finally got off the mark in the 2024/25 season by earning their first point with a 1-1 draw against Liverpool. Olivia Smith scored an early goal for Liverpool, putting them in front.

Decisive Moments

• Riko Ueki salvaged a point for West Ham with a late header in the 85th minute.
• Goalkeeper Kinga Szemik made a crucial save during stoppage time to maintain the draw.

Looking Ahead in the WSL

The WSL continues to heat up as teams look to improve their standings. Upcoming fixtures promise even more thrilling encounters as clubs aim to capitalize on their performances thus far.