Heartbreaking loss for City as sub strikes late
GREAT FREE-KICK LEAVES FOXES STILL LOOKING FOR FIRST POINT
LEICESTER were denied their first point of the Women’s Super League campaign after a stoppage-time free-kick from Maisie Symonds snatched all three points for Brighton in a 1-0 win at the Amex Stadium, writes Jonny Bray of Sportsbeat.
The result leaves Leicester at the foot of the table having lost all seven of their games while Brighton climb up to third.
The first half ended goalless despite plenty of class being on show at the American Express Community Stadium.
It was much the same after the break, and it looked as if the game was heading for a 0-0 draw until super sub Symonds scored in added time.
After a quiet opening 15 minutes, City goalkeeper Kirstie Levell produced a fine stop to prevent a deflected Danielle Carter shot from finding the back of the net.
The Foxes then had their best chance of the opening stages when Molly Pike’s pass found Esmee De Graaf, but the Brighton keeper Megan Walsh beat her effort away.
With ten minutes remaining of the half, both sides were still fighting for scraps.
But the Seagulls took control of the game in the closing stages of the first half, and the Foxes barely got a touch of the ball.
It continued to be a tight affair in the second half despite the Seagulls having the lion’s share of the possession and chances.
Megan Connolly went close from a free-kick that failed to dip in time to find the back of the net.
And the hosts threatened from Connolly’s in-swinging corner, but Levell was able to hold on to Victoria Williams’ header.
The Foxes thought they had broken the deadlock after the ball ended in the net following a dramatic scramble in the Seagulls box.
But the goal had been scored after after the referee Ryan Atkin had blown his whistle.
But there was late ecstasy for Brighton when substitute Symonds, above, scored the winner from a superb free-kick during added time.
“It’s just very disappointing,” Leicester City manager Jonathan Morgan told LCFC TV.
“Again, it shows the ruthlessness at this level. We fought so hard, we played so well, everything we worked on worked for a large majority.
“I think we stopped Brighton playing the way that Brighton normally play.
“Take nothing away from Brighton, they are a good team. The free-kick was obviously fantastic and you knew it was going in from the moment it left her foot.
“It’s just heartbreaking for the girls. It’s my job to pick them back up and focus on these positives and really show that actually they’ve just competed to the very end yet again with a top three team and we’ll just work on that.”
City next face Durham in the Continental Tyres League Cup tomorrow, followed by Sunday’s WSL meeting with Everton.
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