Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.12 2021-22
P. 4

The Barclays FA WSL

       Arsenal’s winning run to start to the season was halted as they drew 1-1
       with Tottenham Hotspur, who are continuing to be a tough nut to crack
       in the league under Rehanne Skinner. Spurs needed to withstand heavy
       pressure at times but defended stubbornly and took their chance when it
       came midway through the second half, Rachel Williams scoring from close
       range.  Spurs  held  on  to  their  lead  until  injury  time,  when  Vivianne
       Miedema headed in an equaliser to preserve Arsenal’s unbeaten record and
       give them a vital point which keeps them on top.
             Chelsea narrowed the gap on the Gunners to one point with a 4-0
       victory away to Manchester City. Jessie Fleming capitalised on an error to give Chelsea an
       early lead and after City had a good spell, which included strong claims for a penalty, Sam Kerr
       made it two on the stroke of half time and Chelsea ruthlessly added two more after the break
       through  Fran  Kirby  and  Magdalena  Eriksson  to  complete  a  second  convincing  win  at  the
       Academy Stadium in three weeks.
             Brighton & Hove Albion continue to do well and are back up to third after beating
       Leicester City 1-0. It was frustration for Leicester though as they were moments away from
       picking up their first point, before 18-year-old Maisie Symonds curled in an injury time free kick
       to spark off wild celebrations from the Seagulls and give her side a fifth win of the season.
             There was also frustration once again for Manchester Utd as they were pegged back
       by a late equaliser for the second  week running. Ella Toone finished off a fine counter attack to
       put United in front after ten minutes but after the break, Everton fought back and Simone
       Magill earned them a share of the spoils with the leveller, fourteen minutes from time.
             Aston  Villa  got  back  to  winning  ways  with  a  1-0  success  in  their  local  derby  with
       Birmingham City and they have returned to the
                                               Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Williams 65)
       top half of the table. Anita Asante headed in the  Arsenal 1 (Miedema 90)
       only goal in the 25th minute to earn Carla Ward’s -
       side their third win of the campaign.   Everton 1 (Magill 76)
             West Ham Utd had looked to be in the  Manchester Utd 1 (Toone 10)
       top  six  before  they  were  foiled  by  a  second  half  - Birmingham City 0
       fightback  from  Reading  FC  Women,  who  are Aston Villa 1 (Asante 25)
       now  three  games  unbeaten.  Lisa  Evans  gave  the -
       Hammers a first half lead, with Grace Fisk heading  Brighton & Hove Albion 1 (Symonds 90)
                                               Leicester City 0
       in a second before the interval. In the second half,  -
       an own goal by Abbey Leigh Stringer reduced the Manchester City 0
       arrears  and  as  the  game  went  into  injury  time, Chelsea 4 (Fleming 2, Kerr 45, Kirby 52, Eriksson 55)
       Reading  grabbed  a  point  when  Emma  Harriers  - West Ham Utd 2 (Evans 19, Fisk 35)
       bundled  home  an  equaliser  to  complete  the
                                               Reading FC Women 2 (Stringer og 70, Harries 90)
       comeback.
       BARCLAYS FA WSL       P  W D  L  F  A Pts GD
       ARSENAL               7  6  1  0 24 3  19  21
       CHELSEA               7  6  0  1 22 5  18  17    LEADING SCORERS
       BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION  7  5  0  2 12 5  15  Kim LITTLE      Arsenal   6
                                                7
                                                4
       TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR     7  4  2  1  9  5  14  Samantha KERR    Chelsea   6
       MANCHESTER UTD        7  3  3  1 12 11 12  Vivianne MIEDEMA  Arsenal   5
                                                1
       ASTON VILLA           7  3  1  3  5 10 10  Fran KIRBY        Chelsea   4
                                                -5
       WEST HAM UTD          7  2  3  2 10 10  9  0
                                               Jessie FLEMING       Chelsea   3
       READING FC WOMEN      7  2  1  4  8 12  7  -4
                                               Pernille HARDER      Chelsea   3
       MANCHESTER CITY       7  2  1  4 11 16  7  -5
       EVERTON               7  2  1  4  7 14  7  -7
       BIRMINGHAM CITY       7  0  1  6  2 16  1  -14
       LEICESTER CITY        7  0  0  7  3 18  0  -15
        Issue no. 12 - 18 November 2021        womenssoccerscene@mail.com
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