BY JODI KEEN
City opened their WSL campaign back at home today, welcoming visitors Brighton to the Joie Stadium. The Citizens currently sit sixth in the league following an opening-day 2-2 draw, with new signing Viv Miedema scoring on her return to the Emirates against Arsenal last week.
The away side came off the back of a huge 4-0 win against Everton, with Seike scoring a hat-trick and new signing, Lioness Fran Kirby, netting following her summer move from league holders Chelsea. City looked to cement their first three points of the season as the Seagulls aimed to build on last week’s statement result over the Toffees.
City went into the fixture with only one change to Gareth Taylor’s side, with Ouahabi making way for Naomi Layzell to come in at right-back. However, for Dario Vidosic’s team, they fielded an unchanged starting eleven in M11, hoping to build on the success of their opening result.
The home side looked to kick on right from the starting whistle, with Taylor’s new lethal front three of Bunny Shaw, Lauren Hemp, and new signing Aubo Fujino, all on the hunt for their opening goals of this WSL campaign. Shaw and Hemp continued to combine in the opening twenty minutes, with a spell of good chances for the Jamaican striker. However, Brighton remained tight in their backline and were stubborn in not conceding for the first time this season, with their midfield dropping back to support City’s advances while keeping their shape.
Brighton were patient with their counter-attacks, ready to pounce on any minor City mistake as Fran Kirby and Bremer looked like a deadly duo in attack. However, they were kept at bay by new City club captain Alex Greenwood, who took over from Steph Houghton upon her retirement. Towards the end of the half, City were brought back into their own half to defend a string of Brighton attacks, relying on Bunny Shaw to show heraerial dominance to clear a Seagulls’ corner and keep the scoreline even.
Strangely, at the other end of the pitch, Shaw struggled to get her shot off against ex-Manchester United keeper Sophie Baggaley several times. But the deadlock was finally broken as last season’s top scorer got off the mark, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner from Kerstin Casparij’s cross.
Half Time: Manchester City 1-0 Brighton
The urgency of the first half seemed to die down after the game’s restart. However, after ten minutes, Brighton were the first to make changes, with new signing Bruna Vilamala making way for Euro-winning Lioness and ex-City winger Nikita Parris. Vilamala was joined by Paulina Bremer leaving the pitch after an hour for 18-year-old Arsenal loanee Michelle Agyemang, with both her and Parris making their second appearances in blue and white.
City retained the majority of possession at the start of the second half, as Brighton dropped deep to keep the scoreline the same. Head coach Vidosic decided it was time for Pattinson to make way for Symonds to try and find the equaliser against a stubborn Manchester City side that is used to locking down three points.
However, after going down with a minor knock following a brave header towards the opposition goal, Gareth Taylor decided not to risk his prolific striker Shaw and allowed Matilda Mary Fowler to have her say on the pitch. Just seconds after coming on, Hemp found herself in the box and squared to Fowler, who overestimated her shot and sent it vertically, with a frustrated and free Viv Miedema waiting for that final pass.
The 81st minute saw the return of Dutch midfielder Jill Roord, who missed the majority of last season with an unfortunate ACL injury that had sidelined her since January. She made her return in front of the City faithful with a standing ovation this afternoon. Despite struggling to find a way forward in the second half, Yui Hasegawa was given the Barclays Player of the Match for her dictation of the City midfield and her technical brilliance on the ball.
Six minutes of added time welcomed the debut of McLauchlan as Brighton made one last change to try and alter the scoreline from midfield. However, Bunny Shaw’s strike before half-time was the decider, separating the two sides as the match ended 1-0, with Brighton suffering their first defeat of the season. City picked up their first three points, gaining momentum that boss Gareth Taylor will want to keep going into next week’s fixture against West Ham.
Full Time: Manchester City 1-0 Brighton
