Brighton and Hove Albion Women 1, Manchester City Women 7
Steph Houghton celebrated her 150th WSL appearance with a double strike as Manchester City’s Women marked seven years as a professional outfit with a 7-1 win at Brighton.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was only one goal short of City’s record WSL win – 8-1 against Bristol City women but City took advantage of weather related postponements elsewhere in the WSL to move into the top three.
And the extent of their domination was clear as they made a record 810 successful passes against Brighton and now hold the record alongside the men’s team who made 942 against Swansea in April 2018 in the Premier League (since records began in 2003/04).
They recorded 19 shots, with 10 on target, with 8 corners and 79% of the possession on the south coast in a highly impressive performance.
Caroline Weir scored two early goals and Ellen White also got on the scoresheet while Rhianna Jarrett scored Brighton’s first ever WSL goal against City as a late consolation before Chloe Kelly and Janine Beckie finished off the scoring in another dominant performance.
It was the second time in a week that City had hit seven goals in the WSL after a 7-0 mauling of Aston Villa Women and the three points were vital as Manchester City got over their Continental Cup heartbreak against Chelsea on Wednesday to keep pace with WSL league leaders Manchester United.
All three of City’s American internationals have been on international duty and there will be anxious glances across the Atlantic where Sam Mewis appeared to sustain an ankle injury playing against Colombia, while Jill Scott has moved on loan to Everton in a bid to get game time to get into the Team GB squad for this summer’s Olympics in Tokyo.
Ellie Roebuck and Weir returned to the starting lineup after spending time out of the team which has been hit with COVID as well as injuries.
Karen Bardsley stepped down to the bench while Jill Scott has departed the team to join Everton on loan in a bid to get some game time ahead of the Olympics in Tokyo this summer.
City’s bench was again filled out by academy players Millie Davies, Alicia Window, Anna Phillips, and Millie Ravening.
And City were off to a strong start after she initial resistance from their hosts.
Kelly’s right wing cross was turned in by Weir after 12 minutes in the first clear chance of the game.
Weir doubled that lead with a rasping drive after 16 minutes after City cut Brighton open on the left flank and the ball was cut back to her by Lauren Hemp.
And City continued to dominate – Norwegian keeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand kept her side in the game when she tipped away a goal bound strike by Weir for her hat trick after 37 minutes after the Scotland international had sidestepped two challenges to create space for herself.
But City scored their third on 41 minutes when Steph Houghton turned in Alex Greenwood’s corner which was whipped in and flicked on by Ellen White to the back post.
Greenwood went on to complete 158 out 166 passes attempted against the Seagulls
Rianna Jarrett’s shot was saved by Roebuck at the end of the half after Ellie Brazil had run into traffic with three City defenders crowding her out at the end of the first half – an all too rare attack for the Seagulls.
With one eye on their midweek exertions, Janine Beckie and Laura Coombs replaced Hemp and Weir at half time.
Record breaking Manchester City hit seven at Brighton
White hit her 6th goal for the season after Kelly provided the ball from wide again after 58 minutes as City kep their foot on the gas after the break.
And three minutes later Houghton hit her second of the day – a free kick that bounced into the roof of the net after going in off the crossbar from 20 yards out to celebrate her 150th WSL appearance in style.
Beckie was also denied by a clearance off the line as she looked to make it 6-0.
Jess Park replaced White after 67 minutes but it was Rhianna Jarrett who scored a consolation for the home side – the first WSL goal ever scored against the Blues by Brighton – after a sloppy City pass fell to her.
But Kelly finished off a team goal by City, finishing off Coombs’ touch as she was tackled, to restore the 5 goal lead little over three minutes later with her 4th goal of the season as the Seagulls succumbed to a slick passing move.
City made it 7-1 when Kelly laid the ball on for Beckie to stab home a deserved goal from close range.
Millie Davies gave Houghton a rare break for the last 9 minutes as Gareth Taylor gave more game time to the academy players.
Brighton substitute Libby Bance was denied by a handball call as she swept a ball wide in the last minute as Brighton sought a second consolation goal.
And Laura Coombs didn’t get enough on the ball to get a record matching eighth goal for City after she stretched to meet Kelly’s cross from the right at the end.
GOALS – Brighton and Hove Albion Women 1, Manchester City Women 7
Brighton Women 0, Man City Women 1: 12. Caroline Weir converted Chloe Kelly’s cross from the right wing from close range.
Brighton Women 0, Man City Women 2: 16. Caroline Weir swept City into a 2-0 lead with her second of the game from range after Lauren Hemp cut the ball back to her from the left.
Brighton Women 0, Man City Women 3: 41. Steph Houghton converted Alex Greenwood’s corner from close range after bundling home Ellen White’s flick on.
Brighton Women 0, Man City Women 4: 58. Ellen White got on the scoresheet after another assist by Chloe Kelly from out wide.
Brighton Women 0, Man City Women 5: 61. Steph Houghton hit a 20 yard free kick into the roof of the net off the crossbar.
Brighton Women 1, Man City Women 5: 69. Rhianna Jarrett profited from a sloppy pass by City to beat Ellie Roebuck and score Brighton’s first ever WSL goal against City.
Brighton Women 1, Man City Women 6: 73. Chloe Kelly got a deserved goal at the end of a slick passing move by City – finishing off Laura Coombs’ touch as she was tackled.
Brighton Women 1, Man City Women 7: 77. Janine Beckie got a deserved goal after Chloe Kelly turned provider from the right
MATCH STATS – Brighton and Hove Albion Women 1, Manchester City Women 7
Brighton Women: Fiskerstrand, Connolly, Kerkdijk (Bance 77), Le Tissier, Heroum, Whelan, Bowman, Green, Kaagman, Brazil, Jarrett (Simpkins 87)
Brighton Women Subs not used: Walsh, Row, Williams
Man City Women: Roebuck, Bronze, Houghton (Davies 81), Morgan, Greenwood, Stanway, Walsh, Weir (Coombs 46), Kelly, White (Park 67), Hemp (Beckie 46)
Man City Women Subs not used: Bardsley, Window, Phillips, Ravening
Goals: Weir 12, 16; Houghton 41, 61; White 58; Kelly 73; Beckie 77
Referee: Lisa Benn