Women’s Super League: Matchday 1 round-up | OneFootball

A return to the Emirates, a record breaking hat-trick and 18 goals across six games. Let’s take a look at what happened as the WSL returned.

Arsenal 2-2 Man City

The most hotly anticipated match of the season’s opening weekend did not disappoint, as 41,818 fans at the Emirates watched two teams on a mission to snatch the title from Chelsea.

A goal from Viv Miedema seemed inevitable, not only because it was against her former side, but also as her manager Gareth Taylor said post-match – “It’s what Viv does.”

Despite City taking the lead in the second half through a thunderous strike from Jess Park, an 81st minute equaliser from super sub Beth Mead meant that last year’s second and third placed teams shared the points.

Another inevitability, that the player who holds the record for scoring the most goals in season opening fixtures, was the one to salvage a point for the Gunners.

In a game that saw Arsenal have 16 shots to City’s 15, both managers were excited by the attacking prowess they saw from their teams and how much more there is to come.

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

The Sonia Bompastor era got off to a winning start at a sold out Kingsmeadow, as Chelsea managed to secure three points in the opening fixture of the season.

The deadlock was broken by a brilliant left-footed strike from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, something Bompastor said she had been encouraging her to practice in training.

Villa did not go down without a fight and they looked like a team wanting to challenge for top four this season.

De Pauw said: “If you can force the champions in this way, it says something about the power we have this season.”

Hannah Hampton was exceptional in goal for Chelsea, making two brilliant saves in stoppage time, including a header from Villa’s new keeper Sabrina D’Angelo – what a debut that might have been!

Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 Everton

Some might have looked at Fran Kirby and Nikita Parris as the Seagull’s big summer signings, but it was Japanese Kiko Seike who became the first player in WSL history to score a hat-trick on debut.

Kirby was the other name on the scoresheet, as she scored a penalty on debut, after her move to Brighton from Chelsea.

Brighton’s new boss Dario Vidosic will be excited for what lies ahead this year after a statement opening win, and with four goals already scored, they look on track to beat last campaign’s tally of 26.

Everton suffered a record-extending eighth opening-day defeat in the WSL, and things were made worse by Aurora Galli ending the match in crutches after going down clutching her knee close to full-time.

Manchester United 3-0 West Ham United

Man United dominated at Old Trafford, with the visitors looking off the pace in their opener.

Victory never looked in doubt for United, and they look a much-improved side from the one that lost 6-0 to Chelsea and gifted Emma Hayes’ side the title on the final day of last season.

New signing Elisabeth Terland, who scored 13 goals for Brighton last season, looked lively and the new number one (wearing number 91) Phallon Tullis-Joyce looked confident, although didn’t have much to do in goal.

After a breakthrough season on loan at Spurs last year, Garce Clinton made her United debut and found herself on the scoresheet in the second half, as she looks to be a huge asset again this season.

After Ella Toone’s dad Nick sadly passed away earlier this month, Marc Skinner praised Toone’s bravery in playing.

A moment’s applause before kick-off was followed by a touching tribute to Toone’s father in the celebrations of their second goal.

Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Crystal Palace

A big win for Spurs against newly-promoted Palace included a goal from Australian Hayley Raso, who made the move from Real Madrid to re-join the WSL in the summer.

Spurs dominated and Palace failed to create chances, ending the match with 10 after substitute Brooke Aspin was sent off after two bookings.

Palace boss Laura Kaminski said: “There’s so many positives to take from the game, disappointed with the scoreline but not disappointed with the effort and intensity the players put in.”

Liverpool 1-1 Leicester City

Liverpool, who finished fourth and beat Leicester twice last season, will see the weekend’s draw as two points lost, with Matt Beard calling it a “sloppy” performance.

Beard had anticipated a competitive game after he praised the Foxes new manager Amandine Miquel for what she has achieved in France.

After their resilient performance, Leicester might just be the “surprise package this year” that Beard predicted.

Featured image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images VIA ONE FOOTBALL