Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.26 2022-23

The Barclays WSL is heading for its most exciting conclusion since 2014 after
the weekend’s results left the race wide open between the top four teams.
On Saturday, Manchester Utd went back to the top of the table after
beating West Ham Utd 4-0. The first half was goalless but United went
ahead seven minutes after the restart, Katie Zelem giving them the lead from
the penalty spot. Lucia Garcia made it two midway through the half and
United went on to crown the win with two further goals late on, thanks to
Hayley Ladd and Garcia, with her second.
Manchester City then blew the title race open the following day as
they defeated Chelsea 2-0. The Blues went into the match on the back of a 13-match unbeaten
run but first half goals from Filippa Angeldahl and Lauren Hemp gave City a valuable win which
takes them level on points with United, whilst extending their own run without defeat to 14
league games.
Arsenal meanwhile have dragged themselves back into the title race and are only three
points off the pace after running out 5-1 winners over Tottenham Hotspur in their derby
match on Saturday. Stina Blackstenius and Caitlin Foord put the Gunners two goals ahead and
after Beth England pulled one back from the penalty spot, Kim Little restored the two-goal
advantage with a penalty of her own before Foord and Frida Maanum added further goals
afterwards.
A busy weekend began on Friday night with the Merseyside derby as Everton and
Liverpool battled ou a 1-1 draw. In front of over 22,000 at Goodison Park, Gabrielle George
gave the Toffees a first half lead which was
cancelled out just ahead of the break by Katie Everton 1 (George 27)
Stengel. Liverpool 1 (Stengel 40)
Aston Villa continue to impress and -
notched up a 5-0 victory over Leicester City. Tottenham Hotspur 1 (England pen 39)
Kenza Dali gave Villa a sixth minute lead which was Arsenal 5 (Blackstenius 5, Foord 29,70, Little pen 66,
doubled by Alisha Lehmann. Rachel Daly duly Maanum 76)
-
netted twice, either side of half time, before Manchester Utd 4 (Zelem pen 52, Garcia 65,90,
Lehmann completed her brace and the Villa scoring Ladd 84)
with nineteen minutes remaining. West Ham Utd 0
Reading FC Women and Brighton & -
Hove Albion met in an important clash and the Manchester City 2 (Angeldahl 21, Hemp 30)
Chelsea 0
points were shared in a 2-2 draw. Things were -
looking good for Brighton when Veatriki Sarri Aston Villa 5 (Dali 6, Lehmann 35,71, Daly 45,55)
scored twice in the opening twelve minutes but the Leicester City 0
Royals fought back after the break and a double - Reading FC Women 2 (Harries 46,60)
from Emma Harries earned them a result which Brighton & Hove Albion 2 (Sarri 8,13)
keeps them two points ahead of the Seagulls.
BARCLAYS WSL P W D L F A Pts GD
MANCHESTER UTD 16 12 2 2 42 9 38 33
MANCHESTER CITY 16 12 2 2 34 14 38 20 LEADING SCORERS
CHELSEA 15 12 1 2 39 14 37 Kha Manchester City 15
25dija SHAW
ARSENAL 15 11 2 2 38 9 35 Rachel DALY Aston Villa 13
29
ASTON VILLA 16 9 2 5 32 25 29 Alessia RUSSO Manchester Utd 8
7
2
EVERTON 15 6 3 6 17 15 21 Beth ENGLAND Tottenham Hotspur 7*
WEST HAM UTD 16 5 1 10 17 30 16 -13 Chelsea 7
Sam KERR
LIVERPOOL 15 4 3 8 16 27 15 -11 West Ham Utd 6
Viviane ASSEYI
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 16 4 0 12 19 34 12 -15
READING FC WOMEN 16 3 2 11 18 36 11 -18
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 14 2 3 9 18 46 9 -28
LEICESTER CITY 16 2 1 13 7 38 7 -31
news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk