Page 30 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.7 2022-23

Manchester City started their defence of the trophy with a 6-0 victory against Blackburn
Rovers on Wednesday night.
Hayley Raso got City off to a good start by giving them a sixteenth minute lead which was
doubled by Mary Fowler and Vicky Losada made it three just ahead of half time. Fowler completed
her double midway through the second half, before Julie Blakstad rounded off the scoring with two
quickfire goals late on.
The result takes City into second place in GROUP A P W D L F A Pts
Group B, three points behind leaders DURHAM WOMEN 2 0 2 0 5 5 4
Liverpool who made it two wins out of two ASTON VILLA 2 0 2 0 2 2 3
with a 4-0 success away to Leicester City. MANCHESTER UTD 2 0 2 0 3 3 2
Missy Bo Kearns put the Reds in front inside EVERTON 1 0 1 0 1 1 2
the opening quarter hour, with Rhiannon SHEFFIELD UTD 1 0 1 0 3 3 1
Roberts and Rachel Furness adding further GROUP B P W D L F A Pts
goals before the interval. Katie Stengel LIVERPOOL 2 2 0 0 5 0 6
wrapped up the win with the fourth goal with MANCHESTER CITY 1 1 0 0 6 0 3
eighteen minutes remaining, keeping LEICESTER CITY 2 1 0 1 3 4 3
themselves in a good position as they seek to SUNDERLAND 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
make it into the knockout stages. BLACKBURN ROVERS 2 0 0 2 0 9 0
Manchester Utd are facing an uphill GROUP C P W D L F A Pts
task though as they endured the frustration of BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 1 0 0 3 2 3
a penalty shootout defeat for the second match WEST HAM UTD 1 0 1 0 2 2 2
in a row, this time away to Durham Women. LONDON CITY LIONESSES 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
Jade Moore gave United the lead midway BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 0 0 1 2 3 0
through the first half, with Jess Clarke GROUP D P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F 4 A Pts
0
3
BRISTOL CITY
equalising on the stroke of half time. It was LEWES 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
practically the same story during the second
half as United went back in front at the CHARLTON ATHLETIC 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 4 0 0
CRYSTAL PALACE
midway point thanks to Vilde Boe Risa, but the GROUP E P W D L F A Pts
Wildcats battled back once again and another COVENTRY UTD 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
leveller deep into injury time from Sarah TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 1 0 0 2 1 3
McFadden took the game into penalties, from READING FC WOMEN 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
which Durham emerged as 3-1 winners with SOUTHAMPTON 1 0 0 1 0 2 0
Bridget Galloway scoring what proved to be
the winning kick.
Four matches were played in all during the week, with Everton starting their matches at
home to Aston Villa and, remarkably, also triumphed on penalties, meaning that all matches so
far in that group have been drawn.
After a goalless first half, Natasha Harding opened the scoring for Villa four minutes after
the restart and Aggie Beever-Jones equalised on the hour mark. The remainder of the match could
not provided a winner and the resulting shootout saw Everton emerge as 4-2 winners, taking the
extra point with Nathalie Bjorn slotting home the clinching penalty.
The result gives Group A something of a strange look with just three points covering the five
teams and none of them having won a match yet.
The FA Women’s Continental League Cup will resume again with the next round of matches
being played in a month’s time, on 26th November.
Northern Ireland senior women’s team are set to face Italy next month in their final match of 2022.
It has been a memorable year for Kenny Shiels’ side who reached their first-ever major tournament
in the summer, inspiring a nation at UEFA Women’s Euro.
Now the team will cap it off by taking on an Italian side who recently qualified for next year's
FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Boss Shiels said: “We will relish the challenge against our Italian counterparts. The stronger
the opposition, the more valuable an experience it will be for our players. A good, competitive game
is what we want, and this fixture fits the bill perfectly.”
The game is scheduled for Tuesday 15th November at Seaview Stadium, Belfast, home of
Crusaders FC (7pm). Ticket information will be released in due course. (irishfa.com)
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