Matildas Abroad Review: Simon brace helps Spurs to win; Lyon remain undefeated in Division 1 Féminine

Kyah Simon found the back of the net twice for Spurs, while Lyon extends their unbeaten streak to thirteen with a win over Bordeaux.

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Plenty of action across England, France and Italy saw our Matildas Abroad in the thick of the action.

Arsenal were hoping to extend their lead at the top of the WSL ladder when they welcomed Manchester United. A flurry of early chances for the visitors saw United find the back of the net first, Alessia Russo turning in the corner at the back post to find the opener. 

Steph Cately made the start for the Gunners and was bust down the left side keeping Manchester at bay.

Down 1-0 at half-time, Caitlin Foord entered the fray for Tobin Heath. Foord showed promise early, forcing a spectacular save from Mary Earps at her near post. 

The task at hand seemed impossible for the hosts with Katie McCabe receiving her second yellow of the game and Arsenal going down to 10 with a quarter of an hour to go.

Arsenal was able to claw back a draw, with Stina Blackstenius finding the equaliser in the 79th minute with her first goal for the Gunners. Lydia Williams remained an unused substitute on the bench. 

Sam Kerr made the start for Emma Hayes' side when they took on fellow WSL heavyweights Manchester City.

A goal to Norwegian Guro Reiten in the 14th minute would be the only thing to split the two sides. Goalkeeping heroics from Ann-Katrin Berger denied City's chance at an equaliser through Jess Park. 

Guro Reiten of Chelsea celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Kingsmeadow (Photo: GettyImages)
Guro Reiten of Chelsea celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Kingsmeadow (Photo: GettyImages)

Hayley Raso and Alanna Kennedy remained on the bench in the game, with this game acting as a dress rehearsal for next month's Conti Cup final between the two sides. 

Kyah Simons' Spurs, after four losses in a row across all competitions, bounced back against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Simon found the opener in the 12th minute, with Shelina Zadorsky sending a perfectly weighted ball over the top to find Simon in the box who chipped the keeper to put Spurs in front. 

Ashleigh Neville got in on the action after coming off the bench, finding Tottenham's second of the day. 

Zadorsky added the third minutes later, while Simon rounded out the 4-0 victory with her second of the day. 

The final game of the WSL round saw two Aussies go head-to-head, with Emily Gielnik's Aston Villa welcoming Mackenzie Arnold's West Ham United and both making the start.

West Ham went in front early, with a scramble in the box put over the line by Abbey-Leigh Stringer, scoring her first for the Hammers.

As rain began to bucket down further into the game, Villa was given the chance to find the equaliser from the spot when Ramona Petzelberger was brought down.


Alisa Lehmann stepped up against her former club and evened the ledger going into the half-time break. 

Katerina Svitkova found the winner for West Ham in the 52nd minute, squeezing the ball under Hannah Hampton in the Villa goal to seal the 2-1 win.

Moving over to France, Montpellier went behind early with Nikola Karczewska finding the only goal of the game in the fourth minute.

Mary Fowler came off the bench in the 73rd-minute mark but was unable to help her side find a late equaliser.

Meanwhile, Ellie Carpenter's Lyon kept their perfect start to the Division 1 Féminine season intact with a 1-0 win over Bordeaux.

Melvine Malard scored the only goal of the game, netting her eighth of the season with Carpenter picking up the assist and the Player of the Match.

Carpenter whipped in a perfect cross to find Malard in the box who made no mistake for the match-winner. 

Our final destination takes us to Italy, where Aivi Luik and Ella Mastrantonio’s Pomigliano faced a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Roma.

Luik made the start for the side from Naples, Pomigliano took the lead from the spot but Roma was quick to find the equaliser. 

Another flurry of goals saw Roma take all three points as they attempt to keep in touch with ladder leader Juventus. 

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This article was originally published on the CommBank Matildas website.
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