That’s all from me! Another dominant display sees Manchester City remain in WSL title contention. We’re in for an exciting few months as the season reaches it’s climax.
Thanks for reading, have a great afternoon!
Manchester City are now back level with Chelsea at the top of the WSL table. With just six games remaining this is shaping up to be one hell of a title race!
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea Women | 16 | 34 | 40 |
| 2 | Man City Women | 16 | 32 | 40 |
| 3 | Arsenal Women | 16 | 17 | 34 |
| 4 | Man Utd Women | 16 | 15 | 28 |
| 5 | Liverpool FC Women | 16 | 4 | 28 |
Brighton interim manager Mikey Harris hopes his team will take the positive aspects from today’s game and build on them ahead of next weekend’s clash with Leicester City. He told BBC Sport: “Really disappointing to concede the goal in the way that we did.
“Although City had a lot of possession we felt like we were limiting them to few chances. I always felt we were a threat on the counter attack.
“Unfortunately mistakes get punished by a team with their quality, and that is what happened to us today. Disappointing but we will take the positives out of it. I think we had some really good moments both with and without the ball, so we will look to build on them going into Leicester next week.”
Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor tells BBC Sport: “I thought we were really good, we played some really good stuff. Everyone can see that the pitch was actually quite good. It held up well but still not an easy surface for us to play on at this time of year especially.
“I thought the players built up really well, created really good chances, were clinical when needed. We spoke at half-time about making the scoreline more improved from what it was. I was a bit frustrated with the goal at the end I’ll be honest. But it’s not an easy game this, none of the games are going to be easy now. The players executed the game plan really well today.
“All we do is try and attack the next game that’s in front of us. Before today it was seven, one down now. Six to go. We move onto the next one.”
Following her Player of the Match performance, Manchester City winger Lauren Hemp told BBC Sport: “It was really fun, we got quite a few goals. Disappointed to concede the goal late on, the goal difference is going to be massive for us going forward so it is important that we really kick on with that.
“Great team performance, especially with the conditions how they were, we managed them really well.”
Elsewhere in the WSL
Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Everton 1-2 Aston Villa
Manchester United 2-0 Bristol City
Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
Tottenham 1-0 Leicester City (still playing)
The visitors completely dominated today’s match and made things very difficult for Brighton both on and off the ball. Mikey Harris’ side experienced a boost following that consolation goal, but it was far too little too late to mount a comeback.
Full-time: Brighton 1-4 Manchester City
Manchester City bounce back from last week’s disappointing cup defeats to go back level on points with Chelsea at the top of the WSL table.
Updated
90+4 min: Symonds is booked for a challenge on Park as we count down to the final whistle.
90+3 min: Sarri receives the ball on the left and sends a low-driven cross into the six-yard box. Lee gets just in front of Greenwood to fire her shot past Keating and into the net!
GOAL! Brighton 1-4 Manchester City (Lee, 90+2)
Lee strikes against her former club!
90+1 min: Four minutes have been added on.
88 min: We’re approaching the final few minutes of the match now. Manchester City still in control.
85 min: McEwan is booked for a challenge on Shaw but nothing comes of the resulting free kick for Manchester City.
83 min: A significant moment for Brighton now as 16-year-old Grace McEwan replaces Carabalí to make her WSL debut.
Yes, you read that right – 16-YEARS-OLD. Feeling old yet?
81 min: That was Coombs’ last touch of the ball as she has been replaced by Laura Blindkilde Brown. Gareth Taylor makes a series of other changes with Chloe Kelly replacing Hemp, Esme Morgan coming on for Casparij, Ruby Mace on for Hasegawa and Alanna Kennedy replacing Aleixandri.
And for Brighton, Pinto makes way for Veatriki Sarri.
79 min: A good passage of play from Manchester City results in a goal as Casparij receives the ball before passing to Fowler on the right. The winger cuts into the box before playing it back to Coombs, who fires her shot into the bottom-left corner.
GOAL! Brighton 0-4 Manchester City (Coombs, 78)
Just as Brighton were starting to gain some more confidence, Manchester City add a fourth!
Updated
76 min: Manchester City have dropped the intensity level slightly and Brighton have been given a bit more time and space to play. The hosts are enjoying more possession, but they are yet to properly threaten Keating.
73 min: Brighton have tried to switch things up a bit with less than 20 minutes to play. Rather than playing through the thirds they are attempting to be more direct when on the attack. It hasn’t worked just yet, but it is certainly a way of posing more of a threat to Manchester City.
70 min: Hasegawa receives the ball just outside the penalty area and sends a cross to Shaw in the box, who is given plenty of time and space to direct her header into the back of the net. Game over for Brighton.
GOAL! Brighton 0-3 Manchester City (Shaw, 69)
And that should be that! Manchester City have all-but sealed three points from this game.
Updated
66 min: A huge call from referee Megan Wilson as Shaw is brought down by Carabalí on the edge of the penalty area. The defender narrowly avoids a red and instead receives just a booking. Manchester City have a free kick in a dangerous position but nothing comes of the set-piece.
Carabalí is arguably lucky to be on the pitch right now as she was the last defender. Manchester City fans, thoughts on that challenge?
64 min: As things stand, Manchester City will move back level on points with Chelsea at the top of the WSL table. A fantastic performance from the visitors so far.
61 min: Brighton make two more changes in a bid to get back into the game. Haley makes way for ex-Manchester City star Lee Geum-min and Losada is replaced by Maisie Symonds.
59 min: Brighton attempt to initiate an attack as Terland receives the ball on the halfway line. She drives forward before playing a pass through to Haley on the left, but the winger loses possession.
56 min: Brighton are struggling to get out of their own half with Manchester City piling the pressure on. Gareth Taylor’s side are really making it difficult for the hosts.
53 min: Manchester City have a corner. Greenwood sends the ball into the box and it falls to Hemp, who sets it back to Coombs. The midfielder goes for goal but her effort is blocked and Brighton scramble to make the clearance. Carabalí is eventually able to hook it away and out of danger.
50 min: Hemp almost gets another! The winger receives the ball from Aleixandri and uses her body to shield Li Mengwen, giving her space to shoot from distance. Her effort beats Baggaley but rattles the right post!
47 min: Manchester City are continuing to pile the pressure on, giving Brighton little time and space when they are on the ball.
Kick-off: Brighton 0-2 Manchester City
We’re back under way at the Broadfield Stadium!
As expected, Thorisdóttir is unable to continue due to injury. She has been replaced by Li Mengwen.
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Updated
Manchester City have completely outclassed their opponents in every area of the pitch so far. Brighton have created some chances, but they have struggled to make the most of them. If City continue this dominance it could be a very long upcoming 45 minutes for the hosts.
Half-time: Brighton 0-2 Manchester City
Manchester City head into the break with a comfortable lead following a dominant first-half performance.
45+3 min: Thorisdóttir is back on the pitch but she is struggling. The defender will surely have to come off at the break. It doesn’t help that she is up against Hemp at the moment…
45+2 min: Concern for Brighton here as Thorisdóttir goes to ground completely unchallenged and off the ball. It looks as though she will be unable to play on.
45+1 min: Two minutes have been added on. I imagine Brighton are desperate to hear the half-time whistle at this point. Manchester City have barely given them time to breathe in the last 15 minutes.
44 min: Another chance for City as Shaw squares the ball across to Fowler in the box. The winger goes for goal but her effort is blocked by Kullberg, who immediately falls to the floor. That looked like a painful one, but the defender is able to play on.
41 min: Hemp plays a one-two with Coombs before crossing the ball into the box from the left. Fowler is left unmarked in plenty of space at the back post, allowing her to tap the ball past Baggaley with ease.
GOAL! Brighton 0-2 Manchester City (Fowler, 40)
Fowler doubles the advantage!
Updated
38 min: Manchester City split open the Brighton defence with a series of clever passes before Park goes for goal. Bergsvand makes an important block in a bid to combat the threat, but City keep piling the pressure on.
35 min: Huge chance for Manchester City to score another as a corner is sent into the penalty area. Coombs goes for goal with a header but her effort is blocked on the line by Zigiotti. A big let-off for Brighton.
32 min: Hemp picks up the ball inside the centre circle and makes a beeline for goal. She is allowed to run straight through several Brighton players before going for goal, but the hosts can eventually clear.
Robinson heads straight down to the other side of the pitch, shrugging off a challenge from Hasegawa in the process. She crosses the ball to Terland in the middle, but there is too much on her pass and the ball runs through to the other side.
31 min: A poor clearance from Greenwood falls to Carabalí in the midfield third. The defender takes a touch before lining up an audacious shot from distance, but her effort runs wide.
28 min: Park receives the ball from Fowler in midfield and splits the Brighton defence with a phenomenal pass through to Hemp in the box. The winger takes a quick touch before slotting it past Baggaley. Advantage City!
GOAL! Brighton 0-1 Manchester City (Hemp, 27)
And just like that, Manchester City have the lead!
Updated
25 min: Manchester City have been the better team so far, but you certainly can’t count Brighton out. The hosts have already created some positive goalscoring opportunities and given Gareth Taylor’s side a fright.
23 min: Hemp receives the ball on the left and looks to cut inside, but Carabalí does well to dispossess her before sending a long pass forwards.
20 min: Chance for Brighton as Losada sends a free kick into the box from midfield. It deflects off Greenwood and into the path of Bergsvand, but she runs the ball out of play and City have a goal kick.
17 min: Some Manchester City staff members tend to Greenwood on the sidelines. It could potentially be for an injury, but the defender is able to carry on.
14 min: Mikey Harris is urging his side to press high when Manchester City are in possession, but the visitors are playing incredibly well while on the ball. The hosts have to make sure they don’t tire themselves too early.
11 min: Coombs wins a free kick in a dangerous position following a challenge from Carabalí. Greenwood steps up to take it and sends the ball over to Shaw in the box. The striker attempts to chest it down but her touch is slightly too heavy and Brighton can make the clearance.
9 min: Manchester City are playing some great football in these early stages. Keating kicks off an attack by passing the ball out from the box, with Hasegawa, Fowler and Hemp all getting involved before it finds Park, but the midfielder loses possession in the final third.
Updated
6 min: The visitors patiently pass the ball around the back while waiting for an opening. It finally comes as Greenwood sends a long pass over the Brighton defence to Hemp, who goals for goal, but her effort is comfortably saved by Baggaley.
3 min: Manchester City have a corner in the early stages. Greenwood’s cross floats into the box, but Brighton are able to clear the danger. The visitors are beginning to press high.
1 min: Brighton get off to a positive start. The ball is played back to Baggaley who attempts to play it long, but Coombs wins possession in midfield. The hosts win it back and Terland is sent through on goal, but she is penalised for a foul on Hasegawa.
Kick-off
We’re under way in Crawley!
Here we go… The teams are out and kick-off is just a few minutes away!
Don’t forget you can email in this afternoon with your thoughts, feelings, predictions, reactions and all that jazz. I’ll be with you all afternoon!
Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor tells BBC Sport: “It’s the one competition we have left. Outside of what Chelsea have done, nobody has done it for a long time. We’re right in there. Our league form has been fantastic. Our start to the season has been really good.
“A little bit of disappointment in the cup competitions but the margins were really tight. I expect the same today. I don’t expect it to be an easy game. Opportunity for us to go level on top and that’s really exciting. If you had given us that with seven games to go we would have really taken it.”
The WSL’s two most in-form strikers go head-to-head this afternoon. Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw currently leads the Golden Boot race with 15 league goals to her name, while Brighton forward Elisabeth Terland has 11. The only player that separates the two is Chelsea’s Lauren James, who has scored 13 goals since the start of the campaign.
Will either of the two stars add to their tally today?
Elsewhere in the WSL
Manchester United currently lead Bristol City 1-0 at Leigh Sports Village. Meanwhile, Liverpool vs West Ham is goalless. Tottenham are set to face Leicester City this afternoon.
Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Everton 1-2 Aston Villa
Here is what the WSL table is looking like ahead of kick-off.
Chelsea have a three point advantage over Manchester City, but that gap could be closed today. Meanwhile, Brighton sit comfortably above the danger zone.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea Women | 16 | 34 | 40 |
| 2 | Man City Women | 15 | 29 | 37 |
| 3 | Arsenal Women | 16 | 17 | 34 |
| 4 | Man Utd Women | 16 | 13 | 26 |
| 5 | Liverpool FC Women | 16 | 2 | 26 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur Women | 15 | -8 | 19 |
| 7 | Aston Villa Women | 16 | -11 | 19 |
| 8 | Leicester Women | 15 | -9 | 16 |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion Women | 15 | -13 | 14 |
| 10 | Everton Women | 16 | -15 | 14 |
| 11 | West Ham Women | 16 | -14 | 13 |
| 12 | Bristol City Women | 16 | -25 | 7 |
Manchester City’s season reached a turning point last week, and not a positive one. On Monday the club’s treble hopes were still well and truly alive, but a midweek defeat to Chelsea ended their Continental Cup dreams. Another loss, this time to Tottenham, subsequently put a stop to their FA Cup run in dramatic fashion, meaning the only piece of silverware City can win this season is the WSL. But, of course, they will have to be on top form for the remainder of the season – and Brighton will provide a tough test today.
Team news
Brighton starting line-up: Sophie Baggaley; Emma Kullberg, Maria Thorisdóttir, Guro Bergsvand, Jorelyn Carabalí; Vicky Losada, Julia Zigiotti, Tatiana Pinto, Madison Haley, Katie Robinson, Elisabeth Terland. Brighton sustitutes: Veatriki Sarri, Lee Geum-min, Maisie Symonds, Li Mengwen, Olivia Johnson, Katie Startup, Grace McEwan, Lily Dent.
TEAM NEWS! 🚨 Here's our starting XI to take on @ManCityWomen this afternoon in the @BarclaysWSL!🔥
— Brighton & Hove Albion Women (@BHAFCWomen) March 17, 2024
📲 https://t.co/1JRqX8gtVj // #BHAFC 💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/LlIVDjPRSp
Manchester City starting line-up: Khiara Keating, Kerstin Casparij, Laia Aleixandri, Alex Greenwood, Leila Ouahabi; Laura Coombs, Yui Hasegawa, Jess Park; Mary Fowler, Lauren Hemp, Khadija Shaw. Substitutes: Sandy MacIver, Demi Stokes, Steph Houghton, Chloe Kelly, Esme Morgan, Poppy Pritchard, Laura Blindkilde Brown, Ruby Mace, Alanna Kennedy.
Your team to take on Brighton! 👊
— Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) March 17, 2024
XI | Keating, Aleixandri, Greenwood (C), Coombs, Fowler, Hemp, Ouahabi, Park, Casparij, Shaw, Hasegawa
SUBS | MacIver, Stokes, Houghton, Kelly, Morgan, Pritchard, Blindkilde-Brown, Mace, Kennedy#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/aqXUp9cevJ
Updated
Preamble
Hello hello and welcome to coverage of today’s WSL clash between Brighton and Manchester City. Both teams head into this match off the back of an FA Cup quarter-final exit, with Mikey Harris’ side suffering a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United and City losing on penalties to Tottenham.
With just seven league games remaining this season, plenty is at stake this afternoon. Manchester City can’t accept anything less than three points at the Broadfield Stadium if they want to keep up with league leaders Chelsea. The reigning WSL champions cruised to a 3-1 win over London rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Friday following a dominant performance. Victory for Gareth Taylor’s side today is crucial, but Brighton won’t make it easy for the visitors.
You don’t want to miss this! Kick-off is at 12:30pm GMT.
