Sam Kerr provided an assist but missed out on the goals as Chelsea came from behind to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 in the English Women’s Super League on Sunday.
Kerr was in Chelsea’s starting line-up again but the Blues went behind after Pauline Bremer’s 10th minute goal.
The Matildas captain tried her best to help find an equalizer, showing composure inside the box to lay off to Fran Kirby who hit the bar, while she couldn’t get the final touch after a free-kick was headed across goal in the first half.
After Sjoeke Nusken had equalized late in the first half, it was Kerr who got in behind the Brighton defence in the 52nd minute, dishing off to Nusken to bury the chance for 2-1.
Kerr may have had some claim on Chelsea’s third goal, with her ball across goal from the right side of the box deflecting in off Brighton defender Guro Bergsvand for an own goal.
The Matildas star almost set up another, creating a defensive turnover with her pressure, before her under-hit pass offered a chance for Johanna Rytting Kaneryd whose effort was saved, only for Jessie Fleming to miss a sitter on the rebound.
Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley both played full games as Arsenal won 2-1 at Bristol City on Sunday. Foord couldn’t get past City goalkeeper Olivia Clark when presented with an opportunity. Kyra Cooney-Cross was an unused sub for the Gunners.
Mackenzie Arnold played her part with a few good saves under heavy pressure as West Ham United netted a late equalizer to earn a 1-1 draw against Liverpool on Sunday. Teagan Micah was an unused sub for the Reds.
Clare Wheeler put in a full shift as Everton were hammered 5-0 by Manchester United on Sunday.
Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy helped Manchester City move into top spot in the WSL on Saturday with a 1-0 win at Courtney Nevin’s Leicester City.
Fowler started and played 61 minutes for City, putting wide a chance to make it 2-0 with a close-range opportunity in the first half.
Kennedy played a full game for City in defence, making a crucial second-half block to thwart Samantha Tierney’s gilt-edged opportunity inside the box.
Nevin, who put in a full shift, helped preserve the one-goal margin when she made a goalline clearance after goalkeeper Janina Leitzig’s save too.
Ellie Carpenter was absent on Sunday as Olympique Lyon won 5-1 at Stade de Reims in the French Feminine Division 1.
Clare Hunt made her French Feminine Division 1 debut for PSG, starting and playing 45 minutes as they won 4-0 at Lille on Saturday.
📋 Notre XI de départ pour ce #LOSCPSG !
🔴🔵 #AllezParis pic.twitter.com/rFGrDvZSzQ
— PSG Féminines (@PSG_Feminines) October 21, 2023
In midweek, Hunt played the 90 minutes as PSG clinched qualification for this season’s UEFA Champions League with a 3-1 win over Manchester United, capping a 3-1 aggregate triumph.
Hayley Raso will also be playing Champions League football this term after helping Real Madrid secure their spot as a 61st minute sub in their 3-0 win at Valerenga, rounding out a 5-1 aggregate victory.
Raso was also a 69th minute substitute on Sunday as Real Madrid were shocked 2-1 at home by Levante in the Spanish Primera Division Femenina.
Larissa Crummer put in a full shift as her Norwegian side Brann completed a 6-0 aggregate win over Glasgow City with a 2-0 home triumph.
Crummer also started and played 88 minutes on Sunday as Brann won 2-0 over Rosenborg in the Norwegian Toppserien.
Aivi Luik’s Swedish club Hacken also qualified with a 2-1 win at Twente sealing a 4-3 aggregate victory, with the Matildas utility coming on in the 85h minute in the second leg.
Luik played a full game on Sunday for Hacken as they won 1-0 at Uppsala in the Swedish Damallsvenskan.
In the group stage draw, Carpenter’s Olympique Lyon are alongside Crummer’s Brann in Group B. Hunt’s PSG are in Group C against Bayern Munich, AS Roma and Ajax.
There’s lots of Aussie flavour in Group D, with Sam Kerr’s Chelsea, Raso’s Real Madrid and Luik’s Hacken all grouped together.
🔒 The groups are SET 🔒
Bring on the action ⚽🔥#UWCLdraw pic.twitter.com/CRHbkQzYH2
— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) October 20, 2023
Chelsie Dawber played the first half for Norrkoping as they went down 1-0 to Pitea in the Swedish Damallsvenskan on Saturday.
Charlotte Grant was sent off in Vittsjo’s 2-0 home loss to Rosengard on Sunday. Grant was given a straight red card in the 96th minute as a last player foul after Vittsjo goalkeeper Lainey Burdett went up for a late corner, only to be caught out.
Clare Polkinghorne and Katrina Gorry both played full games for Vittsjo. Amy Sayer put in a full shift on Sunday for Kristianstad in their 0-0 draw at Vaxjo.
