Welcome to the Barclays Women’s Super League matchup between Brighton and Hove Albion Women FC and Leicester City Women.
Brighton & Hove Albion Women come into the league clash on the back of a mixed run of form, having recorded one win, one draw, and four defeats across their last six matches in all competitions.
Leicester City Women arrive with a slightly steadier, though still inconsistent, set of results, collecting one win, three draws, and two losses from their last six outings.
With both teams hovering in the middle-to-lower half of the table, this match carries meaningful weight. Brighton will aim to capitalise on home advantage and rediscover the fluidity that has sporadically surfaced this season, while Leicester look to tighten up defensively with a back five, and build on their run of competitive performances.
BHAWFC’s head coach Dario Vidosic mentioned in the press conference previous to the game, that Fran Kirby was going to be assessed after recovering from injury and illness. However, she misses out on the squad.
Spanish striker Carla Camacho is also not included in the matchday squad, and it is not known why. Madison Haley, Kiko Seike, and Rachel Mclauchlan lead the attacking line.
“We definitely look forward to being back at the AMEX Stadium. In our last season we had some terrific games there, we’re hoping everyone can come out and support us,” said Vidosic.
For now, let’s enjoy the game and hope both teams put on a show.
Embed from Getty ImagesKICK-OFF! GAME STARTS
5′ Leicester have attacked and forced a save from Nnadozie, who left the rebound in the penalty area.
6′ Relentless press from Seike in the Leicester City half, forcing mistakes from the defenders.
7´Long shot from Rantala after a mistaken pass in defense, Nnadozie was far from goal but the strike did not go on target. BHAWFC got lucky there.
10′ Leicester are now pressing in BHAWFC’s half, with a very high defensive line.
Embed from Getty Images12′ Seike forces a corner kick. Olislagers tried a low cross but got intercepted.
15′ After a cross from Hannah Cain in a counterattack, Rantala took a shot and Nnadozie produced a great save. Leicester look more dangerous so far. Maybe the cold weather has gotten to the home fans, because they don’t seem to push theit
16′ French defender Mpome lost the ball playing out from the back, and was forced to foul Rantala so she did not go through. Yellow card and dangerous free kick.
17′ Cain took the free kick. Tried to pass it to someone behind the wall, quick interception by Seike.
19′ Shannon O’brien took a shot that forced a save from Nnadozie, after the rebound, Sari Kees took a cross/shot directed to goal, and again, Nnadozie produced a wonderful save to force a corner kick. The BHAWFC goalkeeper is keeping her team alive in this first half.
Embed from Getty Images23′ What a chance that was for Leicester City! Rantala went through on goal, and Nnadozie, who was outside the box, got inside right on time to save it. Rantala should have chipped it and it would’ve been a wonderful goal.
26′ Seike hits the post! After a great cross into the box from Symonds, Seike tried a chipped volley and hit the crossbar. BHAWFC start to look dangerous.
27′ GOAL!! MADISON HALEY SCORES AFTER A WONDERFUL THROUGH BALL FROM SEIKE. HALEY CHIPPED THE LEICESTER GOALKEEPER AND BHAWFC LEAD 1-0.
30′ Symonds produced another ball behind the Leicester City defenders, Maclauchlan could not get there on time, but after the goal, BHAWFC have largely dominated the game. The crowd does not seem to be cold now, and are singing and cheering for the home team.
36′ Loud boos from the crowd, as Mpomé won a duel and the referee Megan Wilson said there was a foul.
37′ An O’brien shot blocked from Mpomé, great and confident challenge even though she’s on a yellow card. Corner kick for Leicester City.
39′ Unlucky pass from Cankovic, as she was looking for another through ball trying to find Haley but the ball was too far from destination.
40′ After a nervy start, Mpomé has gained a lot more confidence. She’s won multiple duels, and looks more secure playing out from the back. She’s even going forward and attacking now!
41′ Mpomé continues to improve her performance. Just took a shot that went directly to Leitzig, who caught the ball without any issues.
43′ Seike is the soul and creativity of this team. Every time she gets the ball, the crowd gets excited and hopes for something amazing to happen. Seike just shot wide, touched the net from the outside. The second goal seems closer.
45′ Fourth official Callum Parke has indicated that there will be one more minute for added time. However, Jutta Rantala, is currently receiving treatment from the medical team.
45’+2 Sari Kees forced a corner kick and stayed on the ground. Leicester City’s medical team has gone into the pitch again. Fans are starting to make their way inside to avoid queues and stay away from the cold.
45’+5 Game restarts with the corner kick. Referee Megan Wilson has declared half time.
SECOND HALF STARTS
GOAL 47′ MAELYS MPOMÉ SCORES BHAWFC SECOND GOAL! A CROSS FROM HALEY, TOUCHED BY NOORDAM, GOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF MPOMÉ, WHO SHOT IT ACROSS THE GOALKEEPER. IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY FROM THE FRENCH DEFENDER.
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63′
65′ Shot by Noordam after a counter attack led by Seike. Far from goal, but a solid opportunity on transition.
67′ BHAWFC make two substitions. Manuela Vanegas makes her second appearance for the club after recovering from an ACL injury and signing for the club. Rosa Kafaji is also ready to come on.
Embed from Getty Images67′ Both goalscorers come off. Mpome and Haley leave the pitch and the crowd shows them their appreciation on their impressive displays with loud applauses and cheers.
71′ Leicester City captain Sam Tierney is now booked after a foul on Jelena Cankovic.
75′ LEICESTER CITY SCORES THROUGH 27 SHANNON O’BRIEN! AFTER A SHOT BLOCKED, THE REBOUND FELL NEAR HER, AND GOT THROUGH RULE TO BEAT NNADOZIE. 2-1. GAME ON.
80′ Maisie Symonds is injured, and BHAWFC’s medical team in on the pitch. Both teams come to get instructions from their head coaches during the break.
81′ As the BHAWFC’s medical team is on the pitch, it is great to note that there are a lot of families and kids at the stadium today.
82′ Manuela Vanegas wins the ball through a sliding tackle, but it seems like Jutta Rantala got injured when landing after jumping to avoid the tackle.
84′ Rantala is effectively coming off injured with tears in her eyes. The home crowd cheers her on. Nelly Las replaces her.
87′ GOAL!! BHAWFC SCORES A THIRD. MARISA OLISLAGERS SCORES AFTER A GREAT COMBINATION NEAR THE BOX BETWEEN KIKO SEIKE AND NADIE NOORDAM, WHO GETS THE ASSIST. THE CROWD CELEBRATES WHAT SEEMS TO BE A CONVINCING WIN BY BHAWFC.
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Embed from Getty Images90′ Fourth official Callum Parke announces that we will have at least seven more minutes of playing time.
90’+2 One more substitution for the home team, as Caitlin Hayes comes on for Charlize Rule. The crowd applauds as she comes off.
90’+4 GOAL! KIKO SEIKE SCORES AFTER A BIG GOALKEEPING MISTAKE FROM LEITZIG. A SHOT BY MAISIE SYMONDS LEFT A BIG REBOUND THAT THE JAPANESE FORWARD REACHED QUICKER THAN EVERYONE. 4-1. WHAT A GAME THIS HAS BEEN.
90’+5 Two final substitutions for BHAWFC. Kiko Seike is off for Elliana Martin. Jelena Cankovic is off for Fuka Tsunoda.
90’+5 Final substitution for Leicester City. Shannon O’Brien is off, Hlín Eiríksdóttir is on.
GAME OVER! BHAWFC WIN 4-1! What a convincing win from the home side.
Kiko Seike has been chosen as the player of the match. An exhilarating performance from the Japanese forward. The crowd erupted every time she had possession because she made something happen every time she touched the ball.
The seagulls resisted in the first 25 minutes, and Nnadozie kept them alive and in the game with various great saves. Once they started to attack, they did not stop, and pressed relentlessly until the goals started to come. An impressive second-half performance was rewarded with three goals. The Albion take the three points home and reach 11 points that set them in seventh place in the WSL.