Efforts From Walsh Fail To Prevent Fiery Reds

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester United: Women‘s Super League

12th December 2021

Line ups:

Brighton: Walsh, Koivisto, Le Tissier, Kerkdijk, Williams, Gibbons, Bance, Connolly, Whelan, Brazil, Lee Man Utd: Earps, Batlle, Mannion, Turner, Blundell, Ladd, Zelem, Toone, Staniforth, Risa, Russo

Both teams were noisily welcomed onto the pitch at The Peoples Pension Stadium especially by the visitors from the north. Manchester United started the half the stronger of the two teams however both struggled to maintain possession for any length of time within the opening 15 minutes.

Goalkeeper Megan Walsh kept Brighton in game with several smart saves early on. Although her efforts failed to prevent the reds from finally breaking through after a successful short corner. Ella Toone received the ball from the corner which drew two Brighton players out of the box finding space for Ona Batlle. She took a touch to get the ball under control and delivers the ball low into the penalty box. Hayley Ladd flicks the ball on with her right foot finding the bottom left corner sending United into half time one goal ahead.

The second half followed the same as the first with Manchester United dominating 63% of possession and rallied up a total of 15 goal attempts in the second half. Walsh managed to keep her side in the game until the 69th minute before Bøe Risa doubled the visitors lead. Alessia Russo stormed down the right wing beating Brighton full back Emma Koivisto for pace and delivered a lofted cross towards the near post. Bøe Risa gets to the ball first and diverted the ball into the side netting of the left bottom corner.

Bøe Risa almost doubled her tally in the closing moments but was denied by Walsh as she managed to get down to her left hand side and punched the ball into the ground and away for a corner. United travel home rightful winners despite Walsh‘s efforts. By Jordan Colborne.