Arsenal’s WSL win streak stretches to six as they wallop West Ham at Meadow Park; Chelsea are hard on their heels after surely the most dominant 1-0 victory in football history; Spurs rewrite the narrative of their inferiority complex against Manchester United with a last gasp equaliser; new Everton boss Jean-Luc Vasseur tastes defeat at the hands of Brighton; Manchester City look more like themselves, grabbing three points at winless Leicester; Reading enjoy back-to-back wins with a convincing performance at Birmingham. It’s seemed like weeks since we’ve had any Women’s Super League to enjoy, because it HAS been weeks. See ya later international break here’s Week 6…

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

Chelsea tried out the WSL’s top spot for twenty-four hours after victory at Aston Villa. Jessie Fleming converted the only goal of the game midway through the first half, but the final result only really succeeded in camouflaging the Blues’ utter control of this contest.

Canadian international Fleming scored from close range in the 22nd minute after Ji So-yun transformed her right foot into a pitching wedge, chipping the ball over the Villa backline with just enough back spin for Fleming to apply her low finish in stride.

Ji would go on to hit the bar from 20-yards and Erin Cuthbert also tested the sturdiness of the woodwork later in the half. Beth England was then denied by a fine save from Hannah Hampton as Emma Hayes’ side looked to press home their dominance but they were unable to add to their tally.

Aston Villa had enjoyed a good start to the campaign but now find themselves on a three-game losing streak in the league. Manager Carla Ward will want to see significant improvement in their next fixture, as the Villans travel to cross-city rivals Birmingham City – Ward’s former club – on Sunday 14th November. After that it’s a home game with Sheffield United in the Continental Tyres (League) Cup group stage.

“Clean sheet. No more errors. That is the stuff I didn’t enjoy so that’s stopped. I’m happy about that. It’s what I thought the game would be. The performance was six out of 10. No more than that. No outstanding performer but when you compete you have to learn to do these things and you can’t expect that every week is going to be two, three, four nil. We knew what the game was and as I said, at 1-0, you are away from home, the opponent is going to be buoyed by the opportunity. [Keeper] Ann [Katrin Berger] was precise, she was calm, confident and the team eliminated any errors.”

Emma Hayes, Manager, Chelsea, via ChelseaFC.com

Since their opening day defeat to Arsenal, Chelsea haven’t skipped a beat in the WSL. Five wins on the bounce is good form to be in as they head out to Geneva to face Servette Football Club Chênois in the UEFA Women’s Champions League on Tuesday November 9th. After that the Blues go to the Academy Stadium for a head-to-head with an improving Manchester City…

Everton 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

New Everton boss Jean-Luc Vasseur got to see the scale of the task facing him first-hand as Brighton handed the Toffees a fourth league defeat of the season.

The former Champions League winner with Olympique Lyon manager knows how to marshal top players at the peak of their powers, but now he faces the challenge of getting a talented group of individuals to mesh and become considerably more than the sum of their parts.

That’s a trick that Brighton manager Hope Powell seems to have figured out with her squad, guiding the Seagulls to an unprecedented 6th place finish last season; then opening the 2021/22 league campaign with four victories from six, plus two League Cup wins.

Aileen Whelan will feel she should have opened the scoring in the first half, meeting Megan Connolly’s cross with power, but directing the ball against the cross bar.

No matter. Just after the hour mark Lee Geum-min and Danielle Carter engineered a cross from the right and Whelan got a run on her marker at the front post, heading past stranded keeper Sandy MacIver.

Toni Duggan, Rikke Sevecke and Valérie Gauvin all had sights of the Brighton goal but none were able to trouble the Seagulls’ ever-present stopper Megan Walsh.

The jury will be out for a while considering the merits of letting former boss Willie Kirk build a squad in his desired image over the summer only to be fired half a dozen matches into the new campaign, but the Toffees have invested serious money and their board were clearly seeking more immediate improvements – particularly against the division’s top teams. On Sunday 14th November Vasseur will get to pit his wits against one such club, Manchester United, an opponent that Everton has failed to take any points from since their arrival in the WSL back in 2019.

Brighton, meanwhile, are going from strength to strength. This was a good road victory, not too many would have readily predicted it. Next up we’ll all get to see how the Seagulls cope going into a league game as a hot favourite. Point-less Leicester City will be the visitors to the Amex Stadium on Sunday 14th November. A home win, surely? It’s never as simple as that, though is it? Fending off a shadowy nemesis like complacency can often prove tougher than raising ones performances levels as the perceived underdog.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Manchester United

Spurs left it very, VERY late in the ‘Skinner Derby’, but got a proverbial monkey off their back by finally taking a point from Manchester United in a lively affair at the Hive.

Since the two clubs rivalry first began, vying with each other for promotion from the FA Women’s Championship in 2018, United have exercised their voodoo over Tottenham, winning every encounter.

And for long spells it looked like that was going to be the case again as United pressed for the opening goal. In the 37th minute Ella Toone played Alessia Russo in on goal but Tinja-Riikka Korpela made a smart stop to deny the young striker. Leah Galton couldn’t force the rebound home with Spurs defenders scrambling.

Russo was not going to be shut out for much longer, though. In the second minute of added time she hared into the penalty area, shrugged off defender Ashleigh Neville and smashed the ball into the roof of the net from an angle.

Further opportunities came and went for Galton, Toone, Kirsty Hanson and Martha Thomas but the Red Devils were unable to extend their lead.

Tottenham’s Kit Graham tested keeper Mary Earps from 30-yards, but the rather more defensively-minded Ria Percival was the unlikely stoppage time hero curling in a 95th minute free-kick from way out on the left than eluded everybody in the penalty area and hopped over Earps into the far corner.

Incredibly, there was still one last chance for the visitors to win it. Russo made a good headed contact with Galton’s cross from the left but Korpela kept it out.

The result enabled Rehanne Skinner’s side to hold on to their third spot in the standings ahead of the north London derby with Arsenal which takes place on Saturday 13th November at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. After that they host Watford in the Continental Tyres Cup.

United Head Coach Marc Skinner will be disappointed that his team couldn’t hold on to the three points. As a consequence of two consecutive league ties Manchester United dropped below Brighton into fifth. They travel to Everton on Sunday 14th November looking to get back to winning ways, after which they’ll host their second derby of the season with City – this time in the league cup group stages.

Birmingham City 0-3 Reading

Canadian international Deanne Rose bagged a brace to ensure much-improved Reading secured their second three-goal victory of the campaign against a club from Birmingham.

The Royals put Aston Villa to the sword before the international break and – despite goalless first period – they were in charge for most of this match against Birmingham City. Justine Vanhaevermaet and Deanne Rose both saw the whites of the keeper’s eyes in the opening half but couldn’t register.

The Blues laboured to create chances, but Libby Smith did muscle her way in on goal, only to waste her good work by shooting straight at keeper Grace Moloney.

Kelly Chambers side made their breakthrough just after the interval. Faye Bryson drove her left-wing corner to the far post, it was headed back across goal and Natasha Dowie applied a born poacher’s close-range finish.

In the 54th minute they got their second. Brooke Chaplen put Amalie Eikeland in space out on the right flank, the Norwegian sent an inviting ball into the six-yard box and Rose arrived completely unmarked to power past Emily Ramsey.

The visitors made the game safe in the 71st minute – although in fairness the result never looked in jeopardy. Defender Gemma Evans decided to go with a direct ball forward and Rose was up for the foot race. Ramsey should have claimed the ball but fumbled and Rose rounded her before knocking into an empty net.

Scott Booth’s Birmingham haven’t won this season and find themselves just above the one relegation spot with a single point from their opening six games. But they have a bit of extra incentive to get their first three-point-haul of the season next weekend with the visit of cross-city rivals Aston Villa on Sunday 14th November. After that they host West Ham United in the Conti Cup; they held the East Londoners to a draw in week five so there shouldn’t be any fear there. It’s an important period for the Blues and they need to be competitive in these games. Well, they need to win them!

“At half-time we talked about maintaining the organisation we had in the first half, denying them too many chances while also creating a few of our own. We wanted to build on what we had done but you blink and find yourselves 2-0 down. It was from errors we made that were really preventable and that cost us. We know we have to get better as a squad and as a unit. We hope to strengthen the team as well but until we can it is about trying to pick up points, getting rid of these individual errors that are costing us and also keeping ourselves in games.”

Scott Booth, Head Coach, Birmingham City, via BCFC.com

Reading made an equally bad start over the opening four weeks but Chambers has been able to steady the ship. Six goals in their last two games suggests that their new attackers are all building a better understanding with one another. The Royals travel to West Ham United next Sunday looking to make it a hat-trick of wins. Then, like nearly every body else in tiers one and two, they are in League Cup action – making a trip to Championship side Crystal Palace.

“I think it was a game where we felt we were in control for most of it. For us it was a case of being patient today, moving the ball quick, and waiting to exploit the openings. There were times today where we could have lost focus as we were seeing so much of the ball, as we all know in football it can take just one mistake for the opposition to get in on goal and can punish you. So we had to ensure we were focused on our defensive cover more so than being in possession. Then when we did have possession, we wanted to be patient, move the ball around quickly, as the openings would come, and the girls executed it brilliantly.”

Kelly Chambers, Manager, Reading, via readingfc.co.uk

Leicester City 1-4 Manchester City

Manchester City found themselves a goal down early in this match but soon rallied and went on to thump a Leicester City side that is still seeking its first points of the campaign.

Jonathan Morgan’s Foxes got themselves in front inside the opening sixty seconds. Jess Sigsworth seized on a Jill Scott error and coolly fired past Karima Benameur.

City then took control of the possession and territory stats and eventually levelled in the 24th minute. Alex Greenwood found Demi Stokes on the left. Her cross should have been dealt with comfortably by Abbie McManus, but instead the ball broke to Caroline Weir and she lashed in right-footed from 12-yards.

Gareth Taylor’s side forged ahead seven minutes before the break with a similar approach but a far more spectacular finish. Greenwood this time located Lauren Hemp on the left and the winger crossed into the box. Weir and Filippa Angeldal both had attempts blocked, but the ball spun out to midfielder Keira Walsh and she hammered the ball past Kirstie Levell from the edge of the ‘D’.

Midway through the second period City got their third. Georgia Stanway surged through midfield threading a pass to Hemp, who got the ball out of her feet quickly before lashing into the far corner.

Good approach play from Janine Beckie and Stanway put Lauren Coombs in a position to add some gloss to the score line in the 83rd minute. But the midfielder got the benefit of more clumsy defending, before she was able to slot inside the left-hand post.

Manchester City moved up to seventh in the table with this win. Although they are still embroiled in he midst of an horrendous injury crisis the team looked more like itself, building on their well-earned derby draw before the international break and putting Leicester away without too much fuss.

Chelsea are the visitors to the Academy Stadium on Sunday 14th November and these two clubs have a recent history of terrific matches. City may even fancy themselves given the Londoners will be arriving on the back of a midweek European road trip.

“Great credit to the girls. The way they handled things, we were dominant. They were first class. It was a tough start but we showed real character and determination, and we played some exceptional football. It was vital we won today. We have to take that momentum into Chelsea next weekend and if we win, things look a lot healthier.”

Gareth Taylor, Head Coach, Manchester City, via mancity.com

Leicester’s struggles are all too evident. They’ve squared up to teams from all parts of the league table and have been found wanting every time. In a 22-game season, week 7 suddenly has a desperate must-win look to it. They have an away trip to the south coast to take on Brighton & Hove Albion. That’s not an easy fixture by any stretch, but the Foxes have to find a way to take something home from the Amex that amounts to more than a learning experience.

“We’re disappointed really, after such a fantastic start. I think it was 50 seconds in when we scored. It was very early and while it’s fantastic, we’ve not been used to that much this season. I think the only time we were in the lead was against Aston Villa, so I think it was a little bit like deer in the headlights. We got a little bit too deep, we kept dropping back which allowed Man City to grow back into the game, when realistically we should have stuck to what we planned. The game is a massive learning curve, a massive experience for the girls.”

Jonathan Morgan, Manager, Leicester City, via lcfc.com

Arsenal 4-0 West Ham United

League leaders Arsenal were in irresistible form against West Ham United, taking their perfect league record to six victories. Head coach Jonas Eidevall’s only gripe afterwards was that his side hadn’t been able to convert more of their 21 chances.

In a one-way first half Mana Iwabuchi and Nikita Parris had already hit the West Ham woodwork before Kim Little put the Gunners ahead on 39 minutes beating two defenders before driving past Mackenzie Arnold.

The Hammers never really got to grips with Arsenal’s high press and were caught overplaying in the 52nd minute. Parris and Noelle Maritz combined to get Little into the penalty area and the Scottish international smashed the ball into the net for her 50th WSL strike (in 98 appearances).

Beth Mead was denied by Mackenzie Arnold’s brilliant fingertip save that diverted the ball against the cross bar, before deservedly getting on the score sheet just past the hour mark. She was the beneficiary of a rapid turn and burst through midfield by Parris; the Arsenal forward drawing out West Ham’s backline sufficiently to create enough space for Mead to receive the ball under no pressure and drill it past the keeper.

Mead then provided the 84th minute delivery that substitute centre back Grace Fisk turned into her own net.

A north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium awaits the Gunners on Saturday 13th November. It’s a short week, though. Before that Jonas Eidevall’s squad travel to Denmark to take on HB Køge in the Women’s Champions League group stages.

“Everything in football starts with having a solid defence and not conceding easy goals. I want us to work hard every game to keep a clean sheet. Kim Little was brilliant. She is so dynamic in midfield, both with the defensive runs she makes and her positioning and, of course, when she’s on the ball. [She played] a huge part in the victory. She’s a very hard player to defend.”

Jonas Eidevall, Head Coach, Arsenal, via BBC Sport

Olli Harder’s West Ham remain firmly ensconced in mid-table with a nice neat two wins, two draws and two losses. This was not a match observers would have expected them to win but the Head Coach was disappointed that they were unable to make more a game of it. The Hammers welcome Reading to Victoria Road on Sunday 14th November. At face value, these two sides seem well matched given their respective rosters. After that the East Londoners travel to Birmingham City for the next round of Conti Cup group matches.

“I thought the team had the effort and the application but unfortunately we didn’t show the quality that we needed this evening. If we’d looked after the ball a bit better in those transition moments then we might have had a bit more energy towards the back end of the game. Having to press all the time and not looking after the ball well enough is going to lead to some tired legs, which is what happened this evening. I think we had a lot of okay performances but it’s the details that we need to focus on and unfortunately Arsenal ruthlessly expose those details.”

Olli Harder, Head Coach, West Ham Unite, via whu.com

==

One match was an edgy, slow burner; the other was an end-to-end cracker, but both quarter finals ended with a single goal win for the higher seeded team. Mallory Pugh’s second half strike ensured that the Chicago Red Stars progressed to the last four at the expense of Carli Lloyd’s NJ/NY Gotham FC. In the match that followed Washington Spirit and North Carolina Courage slugged it out for 120 minutes at Audi Field with Golden Boot winner Ashley Hatch converting seven minutes before the end, sparing home fans the agony of a penalty shootout. OL Reign await Kris Ward’s Spirit in Sunday’s first semi final. In the second game Rory Dames’ Red Stars will take on newly crowned Shield winners the Portland Thorns at Providence Park…

Chicago Red Stars 1-0 NJ/NY Gotham

We start our recap at the SeatGeek Stadium. It wasn’t pretty but the Chicago Red Stars were able to ease past NJ/NY Gotham FC courtesy of Mallory Pugh’s clinical strike just after the hour mark.

Former Red Stars Assistant Head Coach Scott Parkinson had taken the helm at Gotham following Freya Coombe’s departure, and he hadn’t lost a single league game. In fact, New Jersey came into the contest on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run.

Chicago had secured victory in their final three regular season games and had only suffered one loss in nine, so a close encounter was expected.

The hosts began brightly in front of a home crowd topping 7,000 fans. Kealia Watt had the first sight of goal in the 5th minute but her effort sailed into keeper Kailen Sheridan’s arms.

Gotham started to get a foothold. Ifeoma Onumonu showed good strength and balance to see off two defenders but couldn’t muster any power on her shot.

Pugh half-volleyed over the bar on the quarter hour for Chicago. Nahomi Kawasumi blazed high and wide of Cassie Miller’s goal frame for Gotham. The match was interesting and highly competitive but needed a moment of quality to spark it into life. Perhaps in the second half…

When Morgan Gautrat nodded Rachel Hill’s 54th minute cross from the right over the bar, that was the closest anyone had come to opening the scoring. But her header wasn’t that close.

The back-and-forth of poor finishing continued as Onumonu shinned well wide from Caprice Dydasco’s right-wing delivery.

Two minutes later the Red Stars forged ahead with a goal that seemed to materialize from thin air – even the broadcast team nearly missed it.

Sheridan and McCall Zerboni got their wires crossed with the keeper trying some ambitious distribution. Sarah Woldmoe intercepted, drew out a defender and gave the ball to Pugh in all kinds of space on the left of the penalty area. The 23-year hit it first time, curling the ball into the far corner.

That heralded the hosts’ best spell of possession but they still didn’t have much of a cutting edge. Pugh managed to engineer herself a 1v1 in the 79th minute but Sheridan won that battle, blocking the shot for a corner.

Parkinson shuffled his pack, making a raft of substitutions in the final 20 minutes. Paige Monaghan, Elizabeth Eddy and Évelyne Viens were exactly the kind of attacking players capable of getting something going on the counter attack for Gotham. But they just couldn’t raise their performance levels. Carli Lloyd’s 85th minute snapshot was driven directly at Cassie Miller, and it turned out the retiring star was offside anyway.

Maybe it was just a game too far for Gotham after a long season. It was a disappointing way for Lloyd to bow out at 39-years’ old but no one can take anything away from her – a player that has delivered BIG on every stage.

The Red Stars had by no means been at their best but they were marshalled brilliantly by central defenders Sarah Gorden and Tierna Davidson for the entire match. A 1-0 score would be enough and Rory Dames’ squad would have a week to prepare before heading to Tacoma, WA to take on OL Reign for a place in the Championship Final…

The second quarter final at Audi Field may have concluded with the same result, but this game was chalk v cheese in terms of excitement as Washington Spirit and North Carolina Courage served up a classic…

Unlike Chicago and Gotham these two teams arrived at the playoff stage from very different places form-wise. The Spirit had been white hot in the closing weeks of the season, while the Courage had coughed and spluttered their way into sixth place on the final weekend of the season, thanks-in-part to Washington beating Houston Dash the previous Sunday.

But there was one thing that many of Sean Nahas’s Courage players possessed in spades, and that was playoff experience. Here was a clean slate, winner takes all, and they were going to give it everything.

The home side, conversely, hadn’t seen a post-season match since 2016. In addition, they were choc-full of young players – fabulously talented and exciting to watch – but would the pressure of the occasion get to them?

One of these young players Ashley Sanchez laid down an early marker, fizzing a 25-yard drive towards goal that keeper Casey Murphy saw all the way. Murphy’s opposite number, Aubrey Bledsoe, was soon into the action, hauling back post header in at full stretch from Debinha’s corner.

A quarter of an hour in the game was already moving quickly from end to end. North Carolina, in particular, were moving the ball well. Jess McDonald cleverly dummied Amy Rodriguez’s pass into the penalty area and that engineered a snapshot opportunity for Lynn Williams. Bledsoe was equal to it.

In the 22nd minute Williams found Merritt Mathias on the right wing. The full-back cut inside and drove the ball to the far post where Debinha was arriving. The Brazilian’s header may have been drifting wide but Bledsoe took no chances.

After a good passage of play from the Spirit, Sanchez whipped in a decent cross from the left, but Trinity Rodman couldn’t keep her header down.

Rodriguez fired over from just outside the ‘D’ on 31 minutes, but moments later forced Bledsoe’s into her most acrobatic save of the night when she raced on to Debinha’s through ball and caught it beautifully, the ball heading across the keeper for the far corner. Everybody in the stadium must have been expecting the net to bulge but the Spirit keeper found springs in her feet and brilliantly pawed it away at full stretch.

Spirit boss Kris Ward replaced Taylor Aylmer with Tori Huster at half time in what was presumably a double-bid to win more ball in the middle and then keep it better – particularly in the attacking half.

Two minutes into the second period Ashley Hatch and Rodman combined on the left to fashion a shooting opportunity for Andi Sullivan which deflected wide. From the subsequently corner Kelley O’Hara recycled the initial delivery, cut inside her tracking defender and unleashed a fierce left-footed drive that Murphy did well to tip over.

Washington had made a positive start to the half but the Courage started to wrest control again. Williams hit a long-ranger in the 53rd minute but it arrowed into Bledsoe’s midriff. Less than sixty seconds later Bledsoe was in action again, making an altogether more difficult stop low to her right from McDonald’s close range half volley.

North Carolina racked up a series of in-swinging Carson Pickett corners over the next few minutes. Bledsoe saved at McDonald’s feet, then denied Abby Erceg who’d timed her far post run and header beautifully.

In the 62nd minute Mathias crossed from the right and Debinha crashed her effort against the cross bar. Rodriguez tried to get on to the loose ball but again Bledsoe shut the door.

Ward made a double substitution in the 70th minute bringing Tara McKeown and Julia Roddar on for Sanchez and Tegan McGrady. It was a meticulously calculated risk and both players brought a different kind of hustle to proceedings, allowing Washington to shift the pattern of the match.

On 74 minutes Sullivan tried her luck from 25-yards but Murphy was perfectly positioned to reel it in.

O’Hara swung in a cross from the right a minute later that was flicked into McKeown’ path. The substitute looked to place her cushioned volley inside the left-hand post but Murphy scrambled across her six-yard box to bat it away.

Sensing that the tide was turning Washington continued to apply pressure. Sullivan’s 20-yard drive on 78 minutes was clawed away by the Courage stopper.

Back came the visitors with more Pickett corners. One delivery whisked through everybody in the 18-yard box before Williams blazed over the bar. Then the forward directed another one back across goal but no one could apply a finish. In the final minute of regulation, Debinha uncharacteristically scuffed an effort off frame.

An additional 30 minutes beckoned. Washington had steadily improved as the match unfolded, now they came into their own dominating possession during both periods of extra time.

In the 92nd minute Dorian Bailey came up with a fine distance strike that Murphy needed to help over the cross bar.

Hatch had been relatively quiet but as fatigue started to set in the game stretched, creating more space for her to work in. In the last minute of the first period she made good run down the left and hit a low shot that needed Murphy’s careful attention. The Courage keeper then dealt with another 20-yard attempt, this time from Roddar. And again she was in action, turning Rodman’s effort around the post after McKeown had forged a path through the visiting backline.

Attacking right back Taylor Smith arrived at the beginning of the second period for North Carolina. She almost made an instant impact, haring through the right channel but lashing her shot into the side netting. It would be the last effort on goal that the Courage would get in the 2021 season.

With seven minutes of extra time left Sullivan found Rodman out on the left flank. The rookie hadn’t had a great night in fairness, but with a player as dynamic and talented as she is there was always the promise that maybe she could deliver one game-changing moment. And she did, squeezing out half a yard on her marker before whipping in the only shot over 120 minutes that Murphy couldn’t handle. Hatch was first to the loose ball and smashed it into the roof of the net.

It was heart breaking for Murphy after such a great display.

After that it became an exercise in game management for Washington and they held out comfortably against a Courage team that suddenly looked spent.

It’s been a long, hard season for the Washington Spirit as an organisation with backroom unrest, fans screaming for the owner to sell up, the mid-season sacking of disgraced former Head Coach Richie Burke and forfeited matches due to breaches of Covid-19 protocols. But you wouldn’t know it to look at the players. They look a tight-knit group, they have leaders all over the pitch and, most importantly, they are enjoying the ride. OL Reign had better take them seriously next Sunday…

Both play-off matches are on Sunday 14th November.

OL Reign v Washington Spirit (3pm ET; 20:00 GMT)

Portland Thorns v Chicago Red Stars (5.30pm ET; 22:30 GMT)

Both matches will be broadcast for UK / Europe audiences on Twitch NWSL.

==

The Washington Spirit rose up to secure their first ever NWSL Championship this weekend, coming back from a goal down to beat an injury-ravaged Chicago Red Stars 2-1 (a.e.t.) at the Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville. There were 10,360 people in attendance and they were treated to a tense, fiercely contested two hours of football, after the initial 90 minutes finished all square at one each. Rachel Hill put the Red Stars ahead in first half stoppage time. Andi Sullivan (just about) equalised from the penalty spot midway through the second period. Full back Kelley O’Hara got the 97th minute winner heading in Trinity Rodman’s left wing cross…

Semi-Finals

D2B’s day job got in the way of being able to apply a full bloggage on the excellent NWSL semi-finals, but we were able to watch both and make some notes. So, here’s a whistle stop recap of how Washington and Chicago made their respective ways to the Louisville showpiece:

The Washington Spirit travelled to Tacoma in, er, Washington state to take on number two seeds OL Reign – in the rain. But they found themselves a goal down inside three minutes when Eugénie Le Sommer tapped in Megan Rapinoe’s cross from the left.

Kris Ward’s side had not started well but showed good character to steady their nerves and get back on terms just nine minutes later.

Centre back Sam Staab hit a perfectly weighted fifty-yard pass over the top of the Reign backline and Trinity Rodman let the ball bounce across her body before dispatching a low, first-time finish. (Reign would have been advised to have watched the Spirit’s last regular season match of the season against Houston – where they scored virtually the same goal.)

Home keeper Sarah Bouhaddi denied Rodman and Tara McKeown with workaday stops before Le Sommer got herself in behind the Spirit defence a minute before the break – beating Aubrey Bledsoe with a neat lob but also bypassing the keeper’s right-hand post.

Rapinoe fired over the bar early in the second period and Quinn couldn’t get a low shot past Bledsoe as the hosts looked to retake the lead. Le Sommer blazed across the face of goal in the 65th minute.

Those misses would prove costly. The Spirit got their noses in front on 67 minutes after Andi Sullivan’s corner ricocheted to Ashley Sanchez on the angle of the six-yard box. The attacking midfielder sized up her options and scooped the ball deftly over Bouhaddi with enough off-spin to take it inside the far post.

Substitute Bethany Balcer and Le Sommer both wasted opportunities and Spirit centre back Emily Sonnett made three vital defensive blocks in the space of 20 seconds.

The Spirit looked for the most part like they would hold on, but it always felt like Reign would get one last chance for an equaliser.

It fell to Le Sommer in the fourth minute of stoppage time who met Dzsenifer Marozsán’s left-wing cross but couldn’t head past Bledsoe.

The Chicago Red Stars played their semi-final at Providence Park, home of Shield Champions (and number one seeds) the Portland Thorns. The visitors went into the game without star forward Mallory Pugh and central defender Kayla Sharples (COVID restrictions), as well as crocked box-to-boxer Tori Huster. A lot of attacking expectation, then, was piled on to the shoulders of winger Kealia Watt who had enjoyed an excellent season; but her match was over inside half an hour through injury.

Rory Dames’ side had worked hard to frustrate the Thorns attack successfully up to this point but now the question was: where were the goals going to come from? An answer came less than ten minutes later from Watt’s replacement Katie Johnson. She worked half a yard of space wide right of the penalty area and somehow managed to squeeze a shot between the near post and Portland keeper Bella Bixby.

Morgan Weaver almost replied immediately for the hosts with a header from Meghan Klingenberg’s cross but Cassie Miller hauled it in. Angela Salem couldn’t apply a finish after a titanic 43rd minute goalmouth scramble.

A second half Portland storm was expected but, after Sophia Smith had fired two efforts off frame for the hosts, Chicago doubled their lead. Morgan Gautrat squared the ball to Sarah Woldmoe 25-yards out, the midfielder got the ball out of her feet and drove it into Bixby’s top left-hand corner.

In front of their third highest crowd of the season (15,832) the champions started to look bereft of ideas. ‘Rocky’ Rodriguez had a sight of goal from the edge of the ‘D’ in the 76th minute but Miller got down to her right and made the stop. And that was it. Portland were out and Head Coach Mark Parsons had completed his final match in charge before heading to Europe to take charge of the Netherlands national team permanently.

A bruised and beaten up Chicago, meanwhile, were off to Kentucky for the Championship Final…

The Final

Chicago’s Mallory Pugh would be back for the playoff final but her partner in crime, Kealia Watt, would not make it. Katie Johnson retained her place in the front three but Rory Dames moved her to centre forward with Pugh and Rachel Hill working either side.

Washington Head Coach Kris Ward made no changes to the eleven that started at OL Reign.

The teams had met three times previously during the year, with Chicago winning twice and the other match being drawn.

With the Red Stars short on fire power they ideally needed a cagey opening to find their way into the match. They got just that, but were unfortunate to lose midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo in the 13th minute to another injury. Makenzy Doniak replaced her.

Chicago were working harder than their opponents and forged the first meaningful effort on goal approaching 25 minutes with Aubrey Bledsoe diving to her right to push away Johnson’s half-volley.

But the Washington Spirit were never going to be kept quiet for the entirety and raised their levels approaching the half. Ashley Sanchez engineered a crossing opportunity for Trinity Roadman out on the left, but McKeown drove her effort over the bar. McKeown turned provider for Rodman in the 45th minute, but the Rookie of the Year fired straight at Cassie Miller.

Mallory Pugh got a knock as the clock ticked into three minutes of stoppage time and Red Stars fans would be hoping that she’d be able to return post interval. And that was that for the opening half…

Only it wasn’t. Three minutes of stoppage time became five and Chicago took the lead with Pugh still looking on from the side lines.

Full backs Arin Wright and Kelley O’Hara squared up out on Chicago’s left, O’Hara slipped and that gave Wright the half-yard she needed to race to the by-line and chip an inviting cross to the far post that Rachel Hill powered home.

We can’t have been the only observers trawling through memories of Portland a week earlier when the Red Stars overcame all manner of odds to beat the Thorns – on paper a stronger, more talented and certainly less injury-afflicted club. Rory Dames’ and his charges had given themselves a chance again…

Pugh was subbed at the break with midfielder Danielle Colaprico taking her place.

Increasingly it was looking like Chicago were going to have to try holding out for the clean sheet. But they had already achieved just that against both previous playoff opponents. The onus, then, was on Washington to find a goal.

To their credit the Spirit were so much better in the second period. Swedish left back Julia Roddar replaced Tegan McGrady at half time and that seemed to quieten the dual threat of Hill and Tatumn Milazzo. Simultaneously, Andi Sullivan and Dorian Bailey started to get on the ball more in midfield increasing the pressure on the Red Stars’ defence. And it wasn’t long before chances started to come.

Rodman came within a post’s width of levelling when she spun away from her marker in the 61st minute and rifled a 25-yarder against the upright. Two minutes later O’Hara whipped in a dangerous delivery from the right that Rodman nodded wide. O’Hara provided another ball in two minutes later which was intercepted, but broke to Dorian Bailey arriving in the penalty box. She dragged her effort past the post.

At the midway point of the second half Washington got their equaliser. Rodman, out on the left again, worked some space to fizz a pass into the penalty box. McKeown arrived and took the ball in stride but Tierna Davidson stuck out a leg and tripped her. It was a straightforward decision for the match official.

Spirit captain Andi Sullivan strode forward and placed the ball, but her spot kick belied a confident demeanour. She struck it poorly. Miller guessed left; left was right, but maybe the keeper was expecting more velocity on the ball and she dived over it.

Scores level it was game on, but Chicago looked shell shocked. Dames’ game plan since the half hinged on keeping Washington out. Injuries were limiting the team’s ability to attack effectively. What now? Try and find a winner? Or play for extra time and penalties?

Spirit boss Kris Ward had no such concerns. The match, and the NWSL Title, was there for the taking. They were going for the throat. Three minutes after they restored parity Roddar put in a cross from the left which McKeown glanced just the wrong side of the near post.

On 81 minutes Sullivan tried a snap shot from 25-yards that Miller turned away low to her right. Sixty seconds later the Red Stars’ keeper was back in action again, denying Ashley Hatch after she’d shaken off the attentions of Davidson.

Rodman played Sanchez into the penalty area in the 84th minute but the Spirit’s semi-final hero blasted into the side netting. It would be her last contribution before being subbed out for Taylor Aylmer.

When the whistle blew for full time Red Stars fans may have hoped that their players could find a second wind and raise their levels for 30 additional minutes, but the pattern set in the second half held and Washington continued to push for a winner.

Substitute Anna Heilferty set up Hatch in the 93rd minute but the Golden Boot winner was unable to beat Miller.

They only had to wait another four minutes for the crucial breakthrough. Rodman cut inside from the left and curled the ball to the far post where O’Hara was arriving, timing her jump and her header perfectly, powering it back across the keeper into the opposite corner. It was her first competitive goal since 2018.

Now Chicago had to score.

In the second period of extra time Colaprico’s deflected effort was reeled in by Bledsoe. Then Davidson fired in a shot from 18-yards that pinged off Sullivan and sailed wide. But every match seems to throw up that one moment on which the entire result hinges and this final was no different…

Spirit central defenders Emily Sonnett and Sam Staab hadn’t made a mistake between them in 118 minutes, but suddenly found Doniak in behind and heading towards their goal.

It would be a heart-in-mouth moment for both sets of supporters. Doniak struck her shot true but Bledsoe was set, sprung to her right and palmed the ball away at full stretch. It was a massive, clutch save for the league’s goalkeeper of the year.

But the stopper wasn’t quite done. In the time added to the injury time on the end of the extra time (!), Arin Wright hammered one last effort at the Spirit goal from 25-yards. It clipped the top of the cross bar, but replays showed that Bledsoe had got the merest of touches on it. And that would win her the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award on the day.

More importantly (and we’re assuming Aubrey would agree) it ensured Washington held on to win 2-1, securing them their first ever NWSL Championship.

Reflections

Go all the way back to the pre-season Challenge Cup in May and the Washington Spirit didn’t strike many as potential playoff winners. They finished fourth in their Eastern group and only beat new franchise Racing Louisville.

But they only lost once in those four Challenge Cup games and that ‘hard to beat’ form held going into the regular season. By week five they’d lost just one of their opening six matches and sat third in the table.

They coped well with the exodus of US and Canadian players to the Olympics – largely because key players such as Ashley Hatch, Trinity Rodman and Ashley Hatch were undrafted. When the NWSL welcomed back its international stars the Spirit were still third, but other challenges had emerged. Head Coach Richie Burke had been sacked. Kris Ward stepped into the interim role. But more trouble was around the corner.

In weeks 16 and 17 the Spirit had to forfeit matches. Portland and OL Reign were awarded 3-0 wins over Washington after it was reported that there had been multiple breaches of COVID protocol. On top of all this the animosity between Spirit fans and club ownership – widely acknowledged in WOSO circles – was getting worse. Not exactly the culture of a winning organisation.

Week 19 was cancelled altogether after an investigative report in the Athletic accused North Carolina Courage Head Coach Paul Riley of sexual coercion with some of his (former) players. NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird was relieved of her duties and the ‘No More Silence’ movement was born.

It was a difficult moment for the league but none of this seemed to distract the Washington Spirit. From week 18 onwards they secured five victories and a draw, going into the playoffs as the third seed and the form team.

At season’s end their squad boasted the Golden Boot winner (Ashley Hatch), the Rookie of the Year (Trinity Rodman) and the league’s best goalkeeper (Aubrey Bledsoe). Head Coach Kris Ward did not lose a competitive match on the grass / turf. The only ‘L’s on his record were those games awarded by the league to opposing teams.

The Washington Spirit have played some of the best, most enjoyable football to watch during the season, combining young players who bring flair and fearlessness with those that have acquired the intelligence and steeliness of experience. Here is a group of players that look like they are having fun – just take a look at their pre-match team photos! (above)

D2B has covered the entire NWSL season over the last few months. At times it could be a bit of a slog to be honest, there are a lot of fixtures. But it was never, EVER boring watching the Spirit in the early hours of the UK morning. And to that end we say congratulations to the Washington Spirit. Enjoy the off-season. Give Kris Ward a permanent job and a pay rise. Make some more exciting draft picks and come back even stronger next season. Be assured: the rest of the league will be gunning for you!

Team of the season:

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There were no draws in the WSL this week. Arsenal stay unbeaten as Vivianne Miedema breaks another scoring record; Chelsea and Manchester City thrash the Birmingham clubs; West Ham edge their London derby with Spurs; Reading take their loss-free streak to four; Everton score late to pile more misery on still-pointless Leicester City. Here’s how week 8 of the Women’s Super League panned out ahead of the international break…

Manchester City 5-0 Aston Villa

Manchester City gave a five-star performance in the second half of this match to leap over Aston Villa in the WSL table. Super sub Hayley Raso bagged a brace and an assist in a devastating 17 minute spell…

Villa had been able to restrict Gareth Taylor’s side to very few chances in the first half but imploded just three minutes after the break when they gifted possession to Keira Walsh who immediately played Lauren Hemp into space on the left. Hemp crossed, Weir controlled the ball, cut inside N’Dow and curled it into the far corner.

Three minutes later it was two. Alex Greenwood’s corner from the right wasn’t dealt with and Georgia Stanway directed the ball into the net.

Villa almost fashioned a way back when Sarah Mayling and Chaney Boye-Hlorkah combined down the right, but substitute Emily Gielnik couldn’t quite make contact with the cross – any touch would have been enough.

City punished that miss in the 77th minute to take the game away from the visitors. Villa keeper Hannah Hampton tried to prevent the ball from going for a corner but played her clearance straight to City sub Hayley Raso. The Australian international took the shot on first time and it whisked into the goal via a slight deflection.

Sixty seconds later Villa were the architects of their own downfall again when Anita Asante gave the ball away. City worked it quickly down the right, Raso beat N’Dow for pace, squared from the by-line and Lauren Hamp arrived untracked to finish from a tight angle.

It took Raso just three minutes to get the host’s fifth, enjoying the freedom of the six-yard box to bundle the ball in after Hemp had hit the cross bar.

“I thought it was a good performance. We scored some really good goals. These games always difficult, and Villa are a difficult proposition. There is still a lot to do in terms of the way we play, refining key details. But the signs were really good and positive today. We got a clean sheet and everyone played their part right the way through. The substitutes made a difference, they helped give us energy, especially when Villa started to flag towards the end.”

Gareth Taylor, Head Coach, Manchester City, via mancity.com

Manchester City go into the international break sat seventh in the league. Beating Villa is fine but they’ve lost more matches than they’ve won this season. The league title has gone, now they have to get on a streak to ensure they’re in the running for a Champions League berth by May.

They visit Birmingham City next in the WSL – a match which is currently scheduled for Sunday 12th December. They’ve smashed one West Midlands side up here; it wouldn’t be a massive surprise to see them do the same to the rudderless Blues next time out.

Aston Villa host Tottenham Hotspur on the same weekend. They won the corresponding fixture last season with a really hard working display against a Spurs side that dominated the ball for large chunks of that match.

A similar mindset is required this time around against Rehanne Skinner’s improved squad, but maybe the Head Coach could let some of those attacking acquisitions loose on the North Londonders. Boye-Hlorkah and Gielnik surely need to be on the pitch from the start. One makes them quicker offensively; the other more physically aggressive…

Manchester United 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal extended their unbeaten run in the WSL to eight as they dispatched Manchester United without too much drama. Vivianne Miedema and Katie McCabe provided the goals and Jonas Eidevall’s side should perhaps have scored more.

The first period had an eerily similar look to the Gunners draw with Spurs a week earlier. They had the majority of possession, looked utterly in control, but couldn’t generate many clear goal scoring opportunities.

Beth Mead hit the bar early doors; later Noelle Maritz drew a workaday save out of Mary Earps. United, meanwhile, defended resolutely but offered little going the other way.

Miedema, talismanic as ever, ensured that Arsenal’s performance wouldn’t fizzle out (as it had against their North London rivals) just three minutes after the interval. McCabe played the ball infield from the left, the Dutchwoman spun away from Katie Zelem took an extra touch to move Earps across slightly and dispatched a low drive into the keeper’s bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the ‘D’. Miedema has now scored against all eleven other clubs in the WSL.

Nine minutes later she was involved again squaring the ball for a McCabe shot, only for the Irish international to get clattered by defender Aiofe Mannion.

McCabe eventually hauled herself up off the grass and, with injured Kim Little already subbed off, stepped up for penalty taking duties – clipping her spot kick towards the keeper’s top right corner for 2-0.

Zelem had a good chance to get United back in the game running on to a neat, lofted pass from midfield partner Lucy Staniforth, but was denied by keeper Manuela Zinsberger who got herself in a good position to save with her right leg.

Mead should have secured another penalty kick but referee Emily Heaslip incorrectly decided it was a free-kick just outside the box. Miedema nearly punished United anyway, curling the ball off the top of the crossbar.

United have plateaued under Marc Skinner. They find themselves propping up the top-half of the table on a poor goal difference largely accrued from the eight goals they conceded against Chelsea and Arsenal. But they’ve also dropped points against teams they were masters of last season.

There’s good news for the Red Devils, though. Despite a mediocre start they are only three points off the final Champions’ League berth. After the international break they travel down to Brighton; then go into the Christmas break hosting Aston Villa. Fans will see both as eminently winnable games. If they don’t win both pressure might start mounting on the United boss.

“From a personal point of view I am still learning the league, the club and the players. I am very pleased with the results, but I am most pleased with this environment that we are learning in. That’s why I really like about working with this group of players and he staff as well. We don’t just look at the draw with Spurs, for example, with disappointment, we are learning from it. We are learning when we lose, draw and win. It’s nice to win the matches but you need to have that learning culture in place, that’s what I’m most pleased with.”

Jonas Eidevall, Head Coach, Arsenal, via arseblog.news

Arsenal go into another WSL ‘pause’ top of the table. Leah Williamson is out until at least the new year and Kim Little is nursing a groin problem so will need to be careful. Mercifully Jordan Nobbs looks more like her old self and has been re-selected for the Lionesses.

On their return the Gunners have home games against Leicester City and Brighton. Two professional displays should culminate in Arsenal holding firm as the WSL’s Christmas number one. However, before both they have the small matter of a Champions League return fixture with current Euro Supremoes FC Barcelona…

Chelsea 5-0 Birmingham City

Sam Kerr notched a first half hat-trick for Chelsea and threw in her famous somersault celebration, but the Aussie had her thunder stolen somewhat by two-strike Fran Kirby who reached 100 goals for the club.

It was a horrible mismatch of a first half-between the South Londoners who have been firing on all cylinders in the league for a few weeks now, and a West Midlands club that has already abandoned their pre-season plans and schemes, hoping instead that a new person at the helm will somehow conjure up weekly miracles.

Birmingham City sacked manager Scott Booth in the week following their 4-0 Conti Cup home drubbing at the hands of West Ham United. The full statement can be found here but makes it plain that Booth essentially carries the can for the tyre-fire that the club has become this season – bearing in mind they already went into the campaign with the lowest budget, the thinnest squad and the poorest facilities (don’t take our word for it, that last one came from their own players.)

Anyway to the match. Chelsea were a goal up inside four minutes. Magda Eriksson put in a cross from deep out on the left. Louise Quinn intercepted but the ball broke to Kirby and she chipped the keeper from the edge of the penalty box.

Millie Bright had a thunderous 30-yard effort brilliantly parried way by Marie Hourihan at full stretch, but there was little the Birmingham stopper could do to prevent Kerr opening her account running on to Jessie Fleming’s through ball and lashing the ball into the far corner.

Kerr put a header wide at point blank range from a poor defensive clearance but couldn’t believe her luck when she was presented with another chance virtually on the goal line in the 29th minute. This one was smashed into the net.

Almost on half time Kerr sealed her hat-trick. Hourihane acrobatically saved Drew Spence’s half volley from the edge of the penalty area but Kerr was on hand to nod the rebound into an empty net. The striker then showed off some impressive circus skills of her own in celebration.

In the 75th minute Kerr turned provider for Chelsea’s fifth goal, fizzing a ball in from the right which Kirby flicked in at the front post for her landmark strike.

Emma Hayes’ side have to close out their two remaining Champions League games against Juventus (home) and Wolfsburg (away). Sandwiched in between is a trip to the vastly improved Reading on Sunday 12th December.

“We had one or two words at half-time – not harsh words, we are adults just sensible conversation – to try and put one or two things right. I think second-half it was much better, fair play to the girls they didn’t batten down the hatches and got on the front foot a little bit. I couldn’t have asked any more of them today.”

Tony Elliott, Coach, Birmingham City, via BCFC.com

Former Everton boss Willie Kirk was asked during the BBC’s live coverage of the United v Arsenal match whether he would be throwing his hat into the ring as Scott Booth’s replacement. Kirk ruled himself out, about as respectfully as he could.

Instead, Birmingham will begin a new journey with Interim Head Coach Darren Carter in situ – so not quite a ringing endorsement from the BC board. A former player for the Blues, Carter was previously first team coach for West Bromwich Albion Women in the FAWNL North. He will be joined by Marcus Bignot who most recently coached at Guiseley FC and is better known in WOSO circles for taking the reins at Aston Villa Women last season.

Carter will start with a difficult home match against Manchester City on December 12, but then it’s the BIG one. On Sunday 19th December the Blues go to Leicester City. Winning that one could put a very different complexion on matters – although quite why the club didn’t offer that courtesy to Booth remains open to debate…

“It is a great opportunity for me and the journey I am currently on, with my coaching career, and I want to make an impact and bring some positivity to the place. It is vitally important to instil some belief, confidence and enjoyment; creating an environment to excel and improve every day as individuals and as a collective. From those foundations, we can look to build some momentum.”

Darren Carter, Interim Head Coach, Birmingham City, via BCFC.com

Leicester City 0-1 Everton

Once again Leicester City came agonisingly close to recording their first point of the campaign, but Simone Magill arrived off the bench to score for Everton. That gave new boss Jean-Luc Vasseur his first league victory and condemned the Foxes to their eighth WSL defeat in a row…

The Toffees had beaten Leicester 3-1 in the Conti Cup group stages earlier in the season, but found their rivals a harder nut to crack in this match.

Midfielder Esme de Graaf had the first decent sight of goal for the home side but headed straight at Sandi MacIver.

Foxes keeper Demi Lambourne had come in for her first league start with the club’s regular starter Kirstie Levell injured and facing four months on the side lines. Lambourne made a fine one handed stop from Kenza Dali after the midfielder had been played in behind the defence.

After the break Dali got in again, this time on the right flank, cutting the ball back for French compatriot Valérie Gauvin. Leicester scrambled and crowded the striker out sufficiently for Sophie Barker to clear off the goal line.

Hanna Bennison surged towards the Leicester penalty box releasing Toni Duggan on her right but Lambourne was equal to the forward’s angled drive.

But the Foxes stopper was unable to save the day when Bennison got Magill in behind the backline on 81 minutes, the Northern Ireland international rounding the keeper and tapping into an empty net.

Everton looked to add a bit of extra sheen to the score line as the game clock ticked down; the best attempt coming from Duggan who cut in from the left and rattled the cross bar from 20-yards.

“Especially then conceding the late goal, the girls are obviously distraught again because they put so much out there and I think it is showing that are injuries are having an impact on us, not being able to make changes when we need to. Everton only had three really good opportunities this whole game and they took one of the three. I think you could argue we had three good opportunities ourselves and we didn’t manage to take one and that’s how ruthless this level is. We still feel very confident that we will navigate ourselves out of this battle. The morale in the camp is so high because we know we are playing well, and we know we are doing things right.”  

Jonathan Morgan, Manager, Leicester City, via LCFC.com

It’s looking bleak for the Foxes. After the international break they have to go to league leaders Arsenal (Dec 12). But there is a chink of light for Jonathan Morgan’s side with a home match against Birmingham City just before the Christmas period. It’s looking like these clubs will be the only ones battling to avoid the drop so securing three points would be a huge fillip going into the new year.

“I’m very happy for my players, the Club, the staff because we have worked very hard last week to prepare for Sunday’s game. It’s always difficult to play against a team that are bottom of the table. It’s a good result for us and one we can build upon in the future. In the first half and the beginning of the second we had chances to score but didn’t. We need to show that killer instinct to put those chances away and make a difference on the game quicker.”

Jean-Luc Vasseur, Manager, Everton, via evertonfc.com

Everton will be going up against two clubs looking to usurp their best-of-the-rest status from last season. West Ham United visit Walton Hall Park on the 12th December. Then Jean-Luc Vasseur’s squad journey to the Hive to take on Tottenham Hotspur.

Reading 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion

Reading extended their unbeaten league run to four matches with goals at either end of this match versus a Brighton side that had more attempts on goal than their hosts, but managed to get just one of them on target.

It couldn’t have started better for the Royals and worse for the Seagulls. Less than three minutes had been played when Faye Bryson robbed Inessa Kaagman in midfielder and hit an ambitious 30-yarder towards goal. Brighton keeper Megan Walsh misjudged the bounce of the ball, spilled it to Natasha Dowie and the poacher made no mistake.

The visitors one effort on target came from Danielle Carter but Grace Moloney made a good parry before Reading cleared the danger.

Brighton continued to generate attacks but the home side held firm with Natasha Harding making one outstanding last ditch tackle to deny Emma Koivisto an almost certain equaliser.

With four minutes left Reading provided the sucker punch. Justine Vanhaevermaet threaded second half substitute Emma Harries into all sorts of space behind the Seagulls back four and she rounded Walsh before slotting into an empty net – making it two in two for the young striker.

“The result was huge today. Credit must go to the girls as they were fantastic. They know that November was a big window for us to pick up points against sides we wanted to, and to take ten points from twelve is phenomenal. I think now, they’re just starting to really gel, getting to grips with the way I want to play and do things. To be fair, they are an exceptional group, they’ve really bonded, the harmony in camp is a joy to be around, and they’re now showing it on the pitch, fighting for each other, and that’s where we are picking up points alongside the ability that they all have.”

Kelly Chambers, Manager, Reading, via readingfc.co.uk

The Royals had an almost perfect November but the international break may have come at a good moment prep-wise for the coaching team as life is about to get much tougher. They host Chelsea on the weekend of 11th/12th December before heading up to Manchester City for a pre-Xmas rumble.

Despite some frustration after this match Hope Powell shouldn’t be overly concerned. Indeed the Seagulls held on to third spot in the table despite defeat, but Powell will know that some stiff challenges await once her players return from international duty.

Brighton host Manchester United next at the Broadfield Stadium and then have a road trip to league leaders Arsenal. Any points in those two matches will be welcome and keep the south coasters in the hunt for a European berth.

West Ham United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur

West Ham enjoyed their first ever victory over Spurs after Dagný Brynjarsdóttir’s 69th minute strike proved to be the only difference between the sides.

Tottenham made most of the (half) chances in the first half with Kyah Simon and Ria Percival both firing over the cross bar. Ashleigh Neville was in a good spot at the far post to get on Percival’s right-wing corner, but nodded it wide.

The all-action full back then latched on to a loose ball outside the ‘D’ but dragged her shot wide.

The hosts got themselves in front with just over 20 minutes left. Lisa Evans’ run and cross from the right broke off a defender to Brynjarsdóttir and the Icelandic international’s left foot didn’t let her down.

Spurs were down, but not out. They worked hard to chisel a point out of this contest but couldn’t quite find their way back. Rachel Williams was brilliantly denied by keeper Mackenzie Arnold who tipped the forward’s opportunistic half volley over the cross bar.

In the last action of the match Neville tried her luck from 25-yards but Arnold was able to scramble to her right and get whatever she could on the ball to push it away.

The Hammers have lost just twice in eight WSL games which points to a significant improvement on last season. They are scheduled for road trips to Everton and Chelsea following the international break.

Tottenham remain above West Ham in the current standings but need to figure out a way to score more goals, particularly when they enjoy the majority share of possession like they did in this game.

That might seem an odd statement given they walloped Watford 11-0 [yes, eleven] in the League Cup during the week, but that’s two more goals than they’ve scored in the WSL combined all season. Rehanne Skinner’s side visit Aston Villa on the 12th December and then host Everton prior to Christmas.

Continental Cup Fixture Wash-Up

We probably missed a few of the upcoming Conti Cup games that are due to take place prior to Christmas in our Week 8 review, so here’s a full list:

Sunday 5th December 2021

Blackburn Ladies v Sheffield United Women

Sunderland Ladies v Aston Villa Women

Manchester United Women v Leicester City Women

Everton Women v Durham Women

Wednesday 15th December 2021

Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers

Coventry United v Tottenham Hotspur

Crystal Palace v Bristol City

Everton v Manchester United

Leicester City v Manchester City

Lewes v Reading

London City Lionesses v Birmingham City

Sunderland v Liverpool

Watford v Charlton Athletic

West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion

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