Page 30 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.4 2022-23

Birmingham City produced the eyecatching result of the day when they won
3-2 against Brighton & Hove Albion. The three times finalists were playing in
the competition for the first time as a Championship club but went into a
two-goal lead against their WSL opponents thanks to Libby Smith and Jade
Pennock. Lee Geum-Min pulled one back for the Seagulls but Lucy Quinn scored
a third for the Blues just after the hour and this was the goal which gave them the
three points, despite a late penalty consolation for Brighton from Danielle Carter.
The other match in Group C almost resulted in another surprise but in the end, it was West
Ham Utd who prevailed against London City Lionesses following a lengthy penalty shootout.
Lois Heuchan put the Lionesses ahead midway through the first half and Sarah Ewens made it two
on the hour, but this time the Hammers fought back and after Viviane Asseyi reduced the arrears,
Dagny Brynjarsdottir equalised deep into injury time and West Ham went on to win 10-9 from the
spot.
Aston Villa have had a great start to the season, which they kept up with a two point victory
over Manchester Utd. Nikita Parris gave United a sixteenth minute lead but after the break, Villa
battled back and Rachel Daly equalised, to take the game to penalties where Villa emerged as 4-3
winners, Maz Pacheco scoring the winning kick.
Villa actually sit level on points at the top of Group A as Durham Women and Sheffield Utd
also went to penalties. The Wildcats went two up during the first half with goals from Rio Hardy and
Beth Hepple but a brace either side of the break from Georgia Walters brought the Blades level again.
Hepple restored Durham’s lead from the penalty spot and Rebecca Rayner levelled once again, to
ensure the match finished in a 3-3 draw. It was Durham who were to triumph 5-3 from the spot,
Maria Farrugia sealing the win with the fifth penalty.
Leicester City have had a difficult start in the WSL but gave themselves a confidence boosting
3-0 victory against Blackburn Rovers. Mackenzie Smith gave Leicester a sixth minute lead which
was doubled early in the second half by Connie Scofield, before Aileen Whelan sealed the win with
the third.
Joining Leicester on six points are Liverpool, who were 1-0 winners away to Sunderland.
Megan Campbell scored the only goal of the
game for the Reds, midway through the first GROUP A P W D L F A Pts
half. DURHAM WOMEN 1 0 1 0 3 3 2
Bristol City have a good record in the ASTON VILLA 1 0 1 0 1 1 2
Cup in recent seasons and have started well SHEFFIELD UTD 1 0 1 0 3 3 1
again, beating Crystal Palace 4-0. Abi MANCHESTER UTD 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Harrison netted a first half brace, before the EVERTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Robins went on to add further goals in the last GROUP B P W D L F A Pts
twelve minutes from Chloe Mustaki and Emily LEICESTER CITY 1 1 0 0 3 0 3
Syme. LIVERPOOL 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 3 0
SUNDERLAND
Lewes have also got off to a good start in BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 0 0 1 0 3 0
Group D, Paula Howells opening the scoring on
MANCHESTER CITY 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
the stroke of half time and Ellie Hack wrapping GROUP C P W D L F A Pts
up the win in injury time as they defeated BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 1 0 0 3 2 3
Charlton Athletic 2-0. WEST HAM UTD 1 0 1 0 2 2 2
Coventry Utd opened up their LONDON CITY LIONESSES 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
campaign with a victory, 2-0 against BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 0 0 1 2 3 0
Southampton. Both goals came in a five GROUP D P W D L F A Pts
minute spell early in the second half, scored by BRISTOL CITY 1 1 0 0 4 0 3
Meesha Dudley-Jones and Ebony Wiseman. LEWES 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 1 0 0 1 0 2 0
Two first half strikes meanwhile took
0
Tottenham Hotspur to a 2-1 success away to CRYSTAL PALACE 1 P W 0 D 0 1 L 0 F 4 A Pts
GROUP E
Reading FC Women. Ashleigh Neville and COVENTRY UTD 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
Nikola Krrczewska gave Spurs the points, TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 1 0 0 2 1 3
despite Natasha Dowie’s penalty consolation READING FC WOMEN 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
for the Royals deep into injury time. SOUTHAMPTON 1 0 0 1 0 2 0
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