City back joint top of WSL while Kiernan bags one for Liverpool
MANCHESTER City moved back level on points with Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea by thumping Brighton 4-1 at the Broadfield Stadium yesterday.
Lauren Hemp and Mary Fowler scored in the first half for Gareth Taylor’s second-placed side before Golden Boot front-runner Khadija Shaw, with her 16th WSL goal of the season, and Laura Coombs added efforts after the break.
Brighton, still under Mikey Harris’ interim management and now 10th in the table, pulled a goal back in stoppage time via ex-City player Lee Geum-min.
It was a 10th successive league win for City as they bounced back from exits in the League Cup against Chelsea and FA Cup against Tottenham in their last two outings.
Taylor admitted his frustration afterwards with the late concession, as goal difference could be crucial in the title race.
The manager said he had told his side at the interval to chase goals to try — a six-goal win would have sent City to the top.
‘It was the message at halftime,’ Taylor told BBC Sport. ‘Sometimes when you say that and start to go about scoring more goals, everybody starts to then probably make poor decisions.
‘We spoke about decision-making. We said we wanted the scoreline to be more than the two we had and we did that. We are frustrated with the goal we gave away.
‘Maybe it’s my fault for making changes and players switching off a little bit coming onto the pitch against players who were switched on and in the flow of the game.
‘But that can happen sometimes. It’s the balance of trying to get that right and overall I am really happy.’
Ireland international Leanne Kiernan was on the mark for Liverpool who recorded a third straight WSL victory as they defeated West Ham 3-1 at Prenton Park.
Kiernan put the hosts in front in the 41st minute and substitute Missy Bo Kearns doubled their lead with a header five minutes into the second half.
Sophie Roman Haug added a finish with 17 minutes of normal time to go, with Riko Ueki’s late reply proving a mere consolation for West Ham, who remain six points better off than Bristol City in 11th.
Liverpool boss Matt Beard said: ‘I think what we’ve done already is a huge achievement, we’re just enjoying the moment.
‘Arsenal getting beaten the other night means we’re three points closer to them.
‘We’re aiming to finish as high up the league as we can. It would be great if we finished fourth but it would be even better if we finished third.
‘We’ll just try to get as many points as we can.’
Manchester United also picked up three points and are level on points with Liverpool, six behind third-placed Arsenal. United’s superior goal difference puts them in fourth.
Lisa Naalsund scored early on and in stoppage time as United won 2-0 at home against bottom side Bristol City, who had JamieLee Napier sent off in the 82nd minute.
Sixth-placed Tottenham claimed a first win in five league outings with Matilda Vinberg’s second-minute effort securing a 1-0 home victory over Leicester at Brisbane Road.