Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.2 2021-22

The Barclays FA WSL

The first round of matches in the Barclays FA WSL produced plenty of
goals and it was Manchester City who produced the biggest win of the
weekend when they won 4-0 against Everton at Goodison Park.
Both clubs had made high profile signings during the summer
but it was the Cityzens who were raced into a three-goal lead in the first
half thanks to Vicky Losada, Janine Beckie and Khadija Shaw. Steph
Houghton rounded off the scoring in the second half via a finely struck
free kick.
Manchester Utd had opened the season on Friday night with
a 2-0 victory over Reading FC Women. Kirsty Hanson put them in front just before half
time and Ona Batlle fired home the second, although Reading may well point to a Brooke
Chaplen shot which hit the bar and may well have crossed the line, which would have
levelled the scores at the time.
Brighton & Hove Albion also got off to a good start, winning 2-0 against West
Ham Utd. After a bright start from the Hammers, Inessa Kaagman gave Brighton the lead
from the penalty spot and Lee Geum-min added the second just before half time.
The last two teams to win the title met each other at the Emirates Stadium and it
was Arsenal who triumphed 3-2 in a thriller against reigning Champions Chelsea.
Vivianne Miedema got the Gunners off to a good start, with Erin Cuthbert levelling the
scores ahead of half time. Beth Mead then produced two superb strikes to give Arsenal the
three points, despite Pernille Harder pulling a
goal back for the Blues. Manchester Utd 2 (Hanson 39, Batlle 54)
Aston Villa staged a second half Reading FC Women 0
fightback for a 2-1 victory over newly promoted -
Aston Villa 2 (Mayling 63, Allen 64)
Leicester City. Natasha Flint gave the Foxes Leicester City 1 (Flint 39)
the lead just before half time but Sarah Mayling -
brought Villa level after the break and a minute Everton 0
Manchester City 4 (Losada 26, Beckie 36, Shaw 38,
later, Remi Allen scored against her old club to Houghton 67)
settle matters in Villa’s favour. -
Tottenham Hotspur were the other Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Graham 40)
team to get off to a winning start, beating Birmingham City 0
-
Birmingham City 1-0 at the Tottenham Arsenal 3 (Miedema 14, Mead 49,60)
Hotspur Stadium. A tight encounter was settled Chelsea 2 (Cuthbert 44, Harder 64)
five minutes before half time when a short - Brighton & Hove Albion 2 (Kaagman pen 33, Lee 41)
corner routine saw Kit Graham’s cross deceive West Ham Utd 0
everyone and find the far corner of the net.
BARCLAYS FA WSL P W D L F A Pts GD
MANCHESTER CITY 1 1 0 0 4 0 3 4
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 1 0 0 2 0 3 2 LEADING SCORERS
MANCHESTER UTD 1 1 0 0 2 0 3 Beth MEAD Arsenal 2
2
ARSENAL 1 1 0 0 3 2 3 Remi ALLEN Aston Villa 1
1
ASTON VILLA 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 Ona BATLLE Manchester Utd 1
1
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 Janine BECKIE Manchester City 1
1
CHELSEA 1 0 0 1 2 3 0 -1
Erin CUTHBERT Chelsea 1
LEICESTER CITY 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 -1
BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Natasha FLINT Leicester City 1
-1
READING FC WOMEN 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 -2
WEST HAM UTD 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 -2
EVERTON 1 0 0 1 0 4 0 -4
Issue no. 2 - 9 September 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk