Manchester City fans could’ve been forgiven for thinking it just wasn’t their night when Brighton came to town on Friday. After all, it’s not often that Vivianne Miedema struggles to find the target on a regular basis, with her in the history books as the Women’s Super League‘s all-time top goal-scorer for good reason. But the Cityzens managed to find a way back from the deficit inflicted on them by Fran Kirby despite a shock off night for their No.10, claiming a first win of the season thanks to goals from a very common goal-scorer, in Khadija Shaw, and a slightly more surprising one, in Yui Hasegawa, which saw the Seagulls off by a 2-1 scoreline.
It was Miedema that most of City’s big chances fell to on Friday and, on any other night, she would’ve surely had a hat-trick. Instead, it was Brighton who went in at half time with the lead in this clash, after a completely untracked Kirby breezed into the box and picked up the loose ball from Michelle Agyemang’s well-saved shot, placing it beyond Khiara Keating early on. With the Seagulls pressing well and giving their hosts plenty to worry about, they were good value for that lead too, even if chances would continue to fall to, and not be taken by, City.
That continued until just before the hour mark, when Shaw’s flying header levelled things up. From there, though Keating would be called into action from time to time, City always looked the more likely to score next and it was an injection of quality from their well-stocked bench that provided the decisive moment. On came Kerolin, fresh off the back of Copa America success this summer, and Aoba Fujino, who lit the WSL up last term in her first season overseas, and it was good link-up play between the two subs that led to Hasegawa being put through on goal, where she would make no mistake to put the Cityzens in a lead that they were able to protect, in order to secure their first win of the new campaign.
BALLGM rates Man City’s players from the Joie Stadium…
Manchester City fans could’ve been forgiven for thinking it just wasn’t their night when Brighton came to town on Friday. After all, it’s not often that Vivianne Miedema struggles to find the target on a regular basis, with her in the history books as the Women’s Super League’s all-time top goal-scorer for good reason. But the Cityzens managed to find a way back from the deficit inflicted on them by Fran Kirby despite a shock off night for their No.10, claiming a first win of the season thanks to goals from a very common goal-scorer, in Khadija Shaw, and a slightly more surprising one, in Yui Hasegawa, which saw the Seagulls off by a 2-1 scoreline.
It was Miedema that most of City’s big chances fell to on Friday and, on any other night, she would’ve surely had a hat-trick. Instead, it was Brighton who went in at half time with the lead in this clash, after a completely untracked Kirby breezed into the box and picked up the loose ball from Michelle Agyemang’s well-saved shot, placing it beyond Khiara Keating early on. With the Seagulls pressing well and giving their hosts plenty to worry about, they were good value for that lead too, even if chances would continue to fall to, and not be taken by, City.
That continued until just before the hour mark, when Shaw’s flying header levelled things up. From there, though Keating would be called into action from time to time, City always looked the more likely to score next and it was an injection of quality from their well-stocked bench that provided the decisive moment. On came Kerolin, fresh off the back of Copa America success this summer, and Aoba Fujino, who lit the WSL up last term in her first season overseas, and it was good link-up play between the two subs that led to Hasegawa being put through on goal, where she would make no mistake to put the Cityzens in a lead that they were able to protect, in order to secure their first win of the new campaign.
BALLGM rates Man City’s players from the Joie Stadium…
Khiara Keating (7/10):
Made plenty of strong saves on an impressive night.
Kerstin Casparij (7/10):
Got forward well to support the attack and dealt relatively well with Agyemang.
Gracie Prior (5/10):
Far too loose in possession at times, though did improve as the game progressed.
Alex Greenwood (6/10):
Delivered good set pieces and positioned herself well consistently.
Leila Ouahabi (6/10):
Grew into the game, delivered a greater attacking threat as it went on, with her cross for Shaw’s equaliser the highlight.
Laura Blindkilde Brown (6/10):
Onus was on her to dictate play in the deeper role and she struggled with that sometimes, with loose touches and poor passes. Got better as the game went on, however.
Yui Hasegawa (7/10):
Battled well, was great in possession and popped up with the winning goal.
Vivianne Miedema (4/10):
Had several great chances that she should’ve done much better with. Could’ve had a hat-trick on another night.
Iman Beney (6/10):
Had a couple of sloppy moments but was generally one of City’s liveliest players on her full debut. Showed some wonderful quality in attack to whet the appetite for what she can bring to this team.
Bunny Shaw (7/10):
Says everything about her world-class quality that she scored the first big chance that came her way.
Lauren Hemp (7/10):
Always posed a threat and created plenty of great chances.
Kerolin (6/10):
Lively return from injury, with plenty of good footwork on show even if her end product was sometimes lacking. Combined well with Fujino for Hasegawa’s goal.
Aoba Fujino (6/10):
Another player coming back from a knock, it was her pass which put Hasegawa through on goal to give City the lead.
Naomi Layzell (N/A):
A late sub who helped see the game out.
Andree Jeglertz (6/10):
Selection in midfield didn’t give City the right balance in the first half and left them lacking defensive nous, with the lack of tracking of Kirby for Brighton’s goal perfect evidence. His team adapted, though, and were better from the start of the second half, with his subs also making a real difference.
