Sam Kerr scored for Chelsea, Sarah Hunter made her first appearance for Paris FC, Teagan Micah helped Liverpool to a historic WSL victory over the Red Devils and Arsenal was shocked by Tottenham Hotspur.
Read our Matildas Abroad review below.
England
Tottenham Hotspur defeated Arsenal for the first time in the Women’s Super League thanks to a second-half Martha Thomas goal and a titanic effort from goalkeeper Barbora Votíková. It was a shock win for Spurs, particularly after Arsenal’s dismantling of defending champions Chelsea last week.
Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley both played the full game for Arsenal on the left-hand side of the park. Kyra Cooney-Cross was substituted onto the park in the 65th minute.
There was another shock this weekend, with Teagan Micah’s Liverpool coming from behind to win the three points against Manchester United. An early goal for Ella Toone looked to set the tone for United, but an own goal to Millie Turner and a second-half winner to Taylor Hinds was the difference for Liverpool. Micah played the full match in goals and has continued her good form since coming into the starting team. Matt Beard's side finishes 2023 on a high, recording their first-ever WSL win over Manchester United.
A Khadija Shaw hattrick meant that Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy’s Manchester City were comfortable 4-1 victors over Clare Wheeler’s Everton. City were far too good for the Blues, including having 69% possession and nearly triple the shots on goal. Wheeler started and played the full match for Everton, while Fowler came off the bench in the second half for City. Kennedy missed the game with an achilles issue.
Despite a late red card to Niamh Charles, Chelsea were comfortable 3-0 winners over Bristol City. Goals to Lauren James, Erin Cuthbert and Sam Kerr were enough to overcome a Bristol side who now sit bottom of the WSL ladder. Kerr started the match and played 65 minutes before being substituted off the park.
It was the late, late show in Leicester as West Ham’s Honoka Hayahi scored a 98th-minute equaliser to make it 1-1 against Leicester City. The Foxes thought that they had done enough after a second-half Lena Petermann goal, but a stoppage-time red card to Hawa Cissoko was not enough to prevent the Hammers from snatching a point at the death.
Courtney Nevin started the match for Leicester and played the full 90 minutes, while teammate Remy Siemsen entered play at the 88th-minute mark. Mackenzie Arnold was deemed fit enough to fit on the bench for West Ham but was not ready to make her return to the pitch.
A third red card of the round to Aston Villa’s Maz Pacheco could not dampen their 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. Recent CommBank Matildas tormentor, the Canadian striker Adriana Leon, was the difference after she scored for Villa in the second half. Charlize Rule was not named in Brighton’s matchday squad.
France
Lyon made it eleven wins from eleven league games, coming from behind to defeat Fleury 3-1. Damaris Egurrola, Ada Hegerberg and Lindsey Horan were the goalscorers as the league leaders continued on their merry way this season. Ellie Carpenter started and played the full match at right-back.
Clare Hunt’s PSG came out with bragging rights after the Paris derby, recovering from an early Paris FC penalty to surge to a 2-1 victory. A penalty to Sandy Baltimore and what turned out to be the winner from Marie-Antoinette Katoto meant that, with games in hand, PSG are in the box seat to overtake their city rivals in second.
Hunt did not start the game but was introduced at half-time. Meanwhile, Sarah Hunter made her first league start for Paris FC, playing until being withdrawn in the 57th minute.
Spain
Hayley Raso started and played 90 minutes as her Real Madrid side defeated Levante Las Planas 2-0 this morning (AEDT). Madrid were forced to be patient but goals to Claudia Zornoza and a penalty to Olga Carmona gave them the 2-0 victory.
