Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.17 2021-22

The Barclays FA WSL

The Barclays FA WSL returned to action after the holiday break on the
weekend with three of the scheduled six matches being played, and saw
arguably the biggest shock result since the league began back in 2011.
With Chelsea not having a game, Arsenal had the opportunity to
open up a lead of seven points at the top when they travelled to Birmingham
City, bottom of the table and without a league win so far this season. It was
the Blues though who went ahead with three minutes on the clock, Lucy
Quinn’s pass releasing Libby Smith who ran through on goal and slotted past
Manuela Zinsberger for the opener. Arsenal were struggling to get going in
the first half and things got even worse for them just before half time, Jamie
Finn crossed to the near post and after Jennifer Beattie’s clearance was charged down, the ball
broke for Veatriki Sarri to plant her shot into the top corner and double Birmingham’s lead.
The Gunners tried hard to fight back after the break with Kim Little and Vivianne
Miedema having shots charged down, but Birmingham defended brilliantly during the second half
and safely saw the game through for a stunning 2-0 victory. This was the first time that
Birmingham had recorded a home league victory since October 2019 and their first clean sheet for
a year, their first win under interim manager Darren Carter and a result which lifted them off the
bottom of the table.
Manchester City are back in the top half of the table after a rampant second half display
took them to a 6-0 victory away to Brighton & Hove Albion. The first half was largely open with
opportunities at both ends but neither could make a breakthrough and the scoreline was goalless
at half time. Three minutes after the restart, the Cityzens took the lead when Lauren Hemp’s cross
was turned into her own net by the unfortunate Victoria Williams. Before the Seagulls could
recover, they found themselves two behind as Hemp lobbed in th e second and a minute later,
Georgia Stanway drilled home from a low cross by Lucy Bronze. City then went further ahead as
Laura Coombs intercepted a loose pass out of defence and chipped home a delightful shot over a
stranded Megan Walsh. Hayley Raso made it five after latching onto a long ball forward from
Steph Houghton and Vicky Losada rounded off the scoring three minutes later via a deflected
effort.
Reading FC Women are now the league’s form team, making it five wins in six matches
as they defeated Leicester City 1-0. The only goal of the game came after eleven minutes, Sanne
Troelsgaard’s pass releasing Natasha Dowie who
beat Demi Lambourne with a dipping shot from the Brighton & Hove Albion 0
edge of the area. It could have been two after Manchester City 6 (Williams og 48, Hemp 50,
Reading were awarded a penalty following a foul on Stanway 51, Coombs 55, Raso 73, Losada 76)
-
Dowie, who picked herself up to take the kick but Birningham City 2 (Smith 3, Sarri 42)
saw her shot well saved by Lambourne. Reading Arsenal 0
could have added to their lead after the break but the -
one-goal win means that they are now up into the Reading FC Women 1 (Dowie 11)
top six. Leicester City 0
BARCLAYS FA WSL P W D L F A Pts GD
ARSENAL 10 8 1 1 30 5 25 25
CHELSEA 9 7 0 2 27 6 21 21 LEADING SCORERS
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 10 6 2 2 12 7 20 Samantha KERR Chelsea 9
5
MANCHESTER UTD 10 5 3 2 19 13 18 Vivianne MIEDEMA Arsenal 7
6
MANCHESTER CITY 10 5 1 4 25 18 16 Fran KIRBY Chelsea 6
7
READING FC WOMEN 10 5 1 4 12 12 16 Kim LITTLE Arsenal 6
0
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 10 5 0 5 12 15 15 -3
Lauren HEMP Manchester City 5
WEST HAM UTD 9 3 4 2 12 11 13 Ella TOONE Manchester Utd 5
1
EVERTON 10 3 2 5 9 16 11 -7
ASTON VILLA 10 3 1 6 6 22 10 -16
BIRMINGHAM CITY 11 1 1 9 6 26 4 -20
LEICESTER CITY 11 1 0 10 5 24 3 -19
Issue no. 17 - 13 January 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk