The Women’s Super League is finally back after an unforgettable summer of women’s football and what a return it was.
It was Arsenal who kicked off the season as they hosted Hope Powell’s Brighton on Friday, September 16, looking to produce a strong start to their campaign following a disappointing end to last season.
Jonas Eidevall welcomed Jordan Nobbs back into the squad after having to cut her 21/22 season short following an injury that also kept her out of the Euros-winning Lioness side.
New signing Lina Hurtig was made to wait for her debut as she started on the bench whilst, after a remarkable summer, England captain Leah Williamson started in defence.
With just seven minutes on the clock, the WSL has already seen the first red card of the season after Brighton’s Emma Kullberg tripped up Stina Blackstenius on the edge of the box.
It didn’t take long for the Gunners to take the lead after captain Kim Little fired her side ahead just before the 30-minute mark.
Inside five minutes of the second half Eidevall’s side doubled their lead through Swedish international Blackstenius.
The Gunners capped off a dominant display with a brace from the WEUROs player of the tournament – Beth Mead, to claim a 4-0 victory and all three points.
Saturday
On to Saturday and Manchester United welcomed Reading to Leigh Sports Village where Marc Skinner handed debuts to youngster Maya Le Tissier and Lucia Garcia.
Millie Turner also returned to the starting 11 after her tough battle with the rare condition carotid artery dissection.
Skinner’s side took just four minutes to open their account for the season and it came through defender Le Tissier after Katie Zelem’s cross met the centre back who headed home her first for United.
The Red Devils doubled their lead 10 minutes later after Alessia Russo was brought down in the box, winning a penalty. Captain Zelem made no mistake and calmy dispatched the ball past Grace Maloney.
Another successful corner routine from Zelem, finding the head of Le Tissier once again to put her side three goals up inside 25 minutes.
United weren’t backing down as they looked to threat once again, this time through the in-form Russo as she converted their fourth following a pinpointed cross from Ona Batlle.
A quiet second half for both sides as Reading couldn’t find a breakthrough but it was United who looked the more likely side to score after Nikita Parris and Adriana Leon were on, making their United debuts.
With neither side putting the ball into the back of the net in the remaining 45, United took all three points after their 4-0 first half.
Sunday
Sunday saw the remaining eight teams take to the stage for the first time this season. Aston Villa welcomed Manchester City to Villa Park in the first game of the day but it wasn’t a happy return for City.
Fresh off the back of a remarkable summer, Rachel Daly returned to the WSL and was straight into the action after finding teammate Alisha Lehmann who slotted home their first goal of the campaign.
A second soon came for Villa after Lehmann is first to the second ball, laying it off to Daly who, without looking up, curls her effort into the top corner, giving Ellie Roebuck no chance.
However, City pulled one back just before the half time whistle through Laura Coombs. The power behind the shot proved too much for Hannah Hampton who couldn’t keep it from hitting the back of the net despite getting a hand to it.
A lively start to the second half saw City fire a quick double past Villa, going ahead for the first time, after Khadija Shaw pulled the first back before Coombs added a second to her tally, converting on the half volley.
But City’s lead was short lasted after Kenza Dali drew her side level after closing down the City defence and striking from the edge of the box.
A perfect debut for Daly as she capped off a great performance with the winning goal after pouncing on Roebuck’s spilled stop following Kirsty Hanson’s effort.
Leicester City hosted a new-look Tottenham Hotspur side at the King Power Stadium, but it wasn’t the home side who took the three points away.
Spurs started strong and capitalised on their dominance inside 35 minutes after Ashleigh Neville struck an unstoppable long-range effort into the back of the net.
Soon came a second through another long ranger, this time by debutant, Drew Spence, as Rehanne Skinner’s side headed in 2-0 up at half time.
Leicester did pull one back just before 60 minutes after a corner deflected in via Spence, giving Lydia Beford’s side hope but unfortunately for the home side, the three points went back to London after Spurs held strong and secured a 2-1 victory.
West Ham kicked off their campaign with a fixture against Everton and were hoping to have a better start to the campaign than last season.
Former Gunners’ player Lisa Evans returned to the Hammers on a permanent basis this season and started life well after scoring the only goal of the encounter on the brink of half time.
The Toffees looked to fight back with chances, but no clear-cut chances meant it was Evans’ headed goal that wrapped up the three points for Paul Konchesky’s side.
Wrapping up the opening WSL weekend was newly promoted Liverpool vs current champions Chelsea.
In a game that promised so much, it did not disappoint. Unsurprisingly it was Chelsea who converted the first goal with just two minutes on the clock after Gilly Flaherty’s miss-cued kick caught Guro Reiten, resulting in a penalty.
Fran Kirby made no mistake and scored her first of the season after waiting for Rachel Laws to pick her side, placing the ball into the opposite corner.
However, Liverpool continued to stand resolute in their defending and attempted to catch the Blues on the counterattack, heading into the break down by just one.
Still looking for the equaliser, the Reds continued to push, resulting in a penalty for Matt Beard’s side. England defender Millie Bright conceded the penalty after the ball caught her on the arm following a Liverpool corner.
With the home fans on her side, Katie Stengel neatly dispatched her shot, bringing her side level against the reigning champions.
Nothing seemed to be falling for Emma Hayes and her side after Sam Kerr was caught offside multiple times, but it was Liverpool who took the victory.
The Reds’ gameplan played out perfectly as they caught Chelsea on the counterattack with just minutes left. Goal scorer Stengel went alone down the right flank, forcing Kadeisha Buchanan to sprint back before sliding in and catching the forward, resulting in another penalty.
Stengel, once again, strikes the ball firmly into the net, securing all three points and letting out a stern message of intent to the rest of the WSL.
Liverpool’s upset bought an end to the opening weekend of the WSL where both Arsenal and Manchester United top the table.
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