Manchester City Women extended their perfect start to the WSL season with a 3-2 victory over Brighton at the Joie Stadium on Sunday. The win keeps them top of the standings with 15 points from five games, two points clear of Chelsea. Their league position is first in the FA WSL, with a record of five wins and no draws from five games, and they have scored 16 goals while conceding six. The result from Sunday 18 October was a 3-2 win, with goals from Khadija Shaw in the fifth and sixteenth minutes and Niamh Charles in the seventeenth.
Khadija Shaw opened the scoring after just five minutes. "Shaw then opened the scoring for Manchester City just five minutes into the game," the striker said. Lauren Hemp provided the assist, whipping in a cross that Shaw converted from close range. Shaw doubled the lead in the 16th minute, again assisted by Hemp. "Lauren Hemp whipped the ball perfectly onto the boot of the forward who poked it into the net," Hemp explained.
Niamh Charles made it 3-0 a minute later, scoring her first goal since joining the club in the summer. Brighton responded with two goals before halftime, Olivia García scoring in the 31st minute and Caitlin Hayes adding another six minutes later from a Francesca Kirby corner.
Match control and stats
City dominated possession with 59% and created 17 shots to Brighton's nine. Manager Andrée Alexander Jeglertz made two changes on the hour, bringing on Mary Fowler and Carlotta Wamser for Grace Clinton and Charles. Brighton goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie made five saves to keep the scoreline close, including a stop to deny Shaw a hat-trick.
Shaw's double takes her season tally to five goals in five WSL appearances, solidifying her position as the team's top scorer. The result continues a strong run of form that includes a 4-2 win over Arsenal earlier this month. Their recent form over the last five matches stands at three wins and two draws, and they are on a two-game winning run following victories over Arsenal and Brighton. Their other recent results include a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid on Thursday 1 October, a 1-0 win at Charlton Athletic on Saturday 26 September, a 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich on Tuesday 22 September, and a 4-2 win over Liverpool on Friday 18 September.
City's next fixture is a Manchester derby away to Manchester United on Sunday 25 October. United currently sit seventh in the table.
