Clubs need to do more if weekend showcase is to shine
Women’s Football Weekend has become a staple of the season after its launch in 2019. It’s a smart idea, capitalising on the men’s international break to highlight the women’s game. This time was no different, with the Football Association, Sky and the BBC heavily promoting the fixtures, which were spread across the weekend. Big crowds duly followed, but there was disappointment with the north London derby being hosted at Brisbane Road while the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was used for Saracens versus Harlequins. The pitch was so poor at Leyton Orient that it was deemed unfit for the women’s match the following day. Meanwhile, Manchester City hosted 5,222 at a packed Academy Stadium while the Etihad across the road loomed large and empty. The FA and broadcasters need the full buy-in of clubs if they are going to make the most of this particular showcase of women’s football. SW
City blow the title race wide open
After Manchester City’s energetic 2-0 victory over Chelsea on Sunday, their manager, Gareth Taylor, reiterated his belief that had his side lost, their opponents would have gone on to win the title. As it is, City’s win, their first in the league over Chelsea under Taylor, has blown the title race wide open. It remains Chelsea’s to lose though. They are one point behind City and Manchester United with a game in hand and only one game remaining against the top-four sides (as opposed to City and United’s two and Arsenal’s three), but they appear to be struggling with injuries as well as with a lack of ideas and options. A tricky game lies ahead, with Aston Villa, the WSL’s best of the rest, awaiting Chelsea after Thursday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Lyon. SW
A HUGE WIN!!! 💙
— Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) March 26, 2023
🔵 2-0 🦁 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/960p2D1iym
Eye-catching García finally settling at United
When Lucía García arrived at Manchester United last summer, there was plenty of anticipation around what she could achieve. Instead, it has proved to be a slow start at Old Trafford for the 24-year-old Spain international with eight starts and five goals. But if her performance at the weekend is anything to go by, she is starting to settle. A substitute in the second half against West Ham, García scored the goal of the game with a sublime touch and finish before adding another in injury time. It was a performance that caught the eye of her manager, Marc Skinner. “She’s just taken a little bit of time to adapt to the league,” he said. “When I talk about the ‘Red Devil energy’, it’s her. The way she moves, the way she presses, the way she invades space on the shoulder. She needs to keep it up now.” SD
🤷♀️ @LuciaGarcia17 brought the main character energy to Old Trafford 😮💨#MUWomen || #WSL pic.twitter.com/PLK7ip5M91
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) March 26, 2023
Pelova and Foord show no mercy in derby drubbing
Victoria Pelova and Caitlin Foord ran the show for Arsenal in their ruthless 5-1 victory over Tottenham. Stina Blackstenius, who was a livewire at Leyton Orient, opened Arsenal’s account with a thunderous shot and Kim Little and Frida Maanum also got on the scoresheet. Foord scored twice and had Pelova to thank for them. The pair worked well together against opponents who were trapped in their own half for most of the game. “Spurs seem to be the team I can put a few away against,” said Foord. RO
Low-key rivalry makes for a healthy Merseyside meeting
The size was not the only healthy aspect of the crowd for Friday night’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. There were 22,161 in attendance as Everton and Liverpool played out an entertaining 1-1 draw – the previous record at Goodison had been 5,998 – which took the combined total for the two derbies this season to an impressive 49,735. It was a family-friendly occasion with blues and reds sat side-by-side, but for all the talk of local rivalry pulling in the crowds the Liverpool manager, Matt Beard, spoke passionately about the need to protect the atmosphere. “What we don’t want is it to become like the men’s game,” he said. “Families come to our games and the last thing we want is to create an atmosphere where it’s unsettling for the kids. We have to be careful when talking about rivalry, I don’t think it’s right. These young girls are going to follow their teams throughout their life, this is the start of that journey.” AH
22,161 spectators. A new home record.
— Everton Women (@EvertonWomen) March 24, 2023
A historic night. 💙 pic.twitter.com/ykZU6gUdos
Lehmann lights up another electric Villa showing
Aston Villa’s goal of securing a top-six place move one step closer after they put five past Leicester. They illustrated why they are one of the most exciting teams in the division; in full flow, any one of their attackers can pick opponents apart in an instant. Rachel Daly regularly gets the headlines – she scored twice on Sunday – but Alisha Lehmann was central to proceedings at Villa Park. The Swiss international’s productivity is sometimes questioned, but two goals and an assist showed what she can accomplish. “Such an unbelievable talent,” said Carla Ward, the Villa manager. “It’s important we’ve got people like Alisha Lehmann in the building because she’s a top pro and a top teammate”. SD
Loves a goal at Villa Park. 💜 @lehmann_alisha pic.twitter.com/A8KhVKl9bC
— Aston Villa Women (@AVWFCOfficial) March 26, 2023
Reading and Brighton add to relegation drama
Sunday’s draw between Reading and Brighton proved there is drama in the battle for survival as well for the title. Things initially went the way of Brighton as Veatriki Sarri scored two first-half goals for the visitors, but somewhat inevitably their suspect defensive capabilities came to the fore, allowing Reading to get back into the contest via two wonderful second-half goals from the substitute Emma Harries. Exciting stuff and there is more to come at the bottom of the table before the end of the season. RO
The definition of a SUPER SUB... 🦸♀️
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) March 26, 2023
🔁: 45th minute
⚽️: 46th minute
⚽️: 60th minute
The perfect performance from @ReadingFCWomen's @EHarries9 to turn around a 2-0 deficit 🤩 pic.twitter.com/m6P8GxbQdP
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man Utd Women | 16 | 33 | 38 |
| 2 | Man City Women | 16 | 20 | 38 |
| 3 | Chelsea Women | 15 | 25 | 37 |
| 4 | Arsenal Women | 15 | 29 | 35 |
| 5 | Aston Villa Women | 16 | 7 | 29 |
| 6 | Everton Women | 15 | 2 | 21 |
| 7 | West Ham Women | 16 | -13 | 16 |
| 8 | Liverpool FC Women | 15 | -11 | 15 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur Women | 16 | -15 | 12 |
| 10 | Reading Women | 16 | -18 | 11 |
| 11 | Brighton & Hove Albion Women | 14 | -28 | 9 |
| 12 | Leicester Women | 16 | -31 | 7 |
