Manchester City overturn Brighton's 1 - 0 advantage to win the game 2 - 1

After a disappointing start for both teams in the opening weekend of the WSL, Man City failing to beat 6x WSL champions Chelsea and Brighton ending in a goalless draw against Villa, they were both ready to bounce back under the lights in Manchester. 

📸via www.mancity.com

Starting XI: 

Brighton and Hove Albion: Nnadozie, Minami, Symonds (C), Agyemang, Cankovic, Kirby, Rayner, Olislagers, Haley, McLauchlan, Rule 

Manchester City: Keating, Prior, Greenwood (C), Ouahabi, Casparij, Blindkilde Brown, Hasegawa, Hemp, Beney, Miedema, Shaw 

First Half: 

Brighton Vs Man City got underway at the Joie Stadium at 7:45 pm as Man City started strongly with two early chances in the opening minute. After an early scare from City, Brighton composed themselves taking control of the match with a few chances to take an early lead; a sloppy ball from the Man City goalkeeper Keating helped Brighton midfielder Cankovic to narrowly miss and the first corner of the match went Brighton’s way in the 8^th minute. 

The high pressure from Brighton continued and it inevitably paid off; the shot from Agyemang was blocked by Keating however Kirby found the back of the net on the rebound to give Brighton the lead away from home in the 14^th minute. 

Brighton remained with the high pressure and possession causing the City backline to make a few silly errors. Maisie Symonds, Brighton skipper, crossed the ball into the box however couldn’t find the heads of either Agyemang or Rayner; just one of the many chances Brighton had to double their lead going into half time. 

In the 46^th minute, added time of the first half, Viv Miedema was so close to bringing City back into the game as she narrowly missed her shot right at the end of the first half. 

Fran Kirby’s goal was the only goal of the match so far as it separated the two sides, giving Brighton the lead at half time. Brighton had been far more clinical with their high press, forcing City into making some unforced mistakes and causing them to be unable to find a way back into this game in the first half. 

First Half Bookings: 

-Bex Rayner: 25’ (Brighton) 

Half Time Substitutions: 

-Nadine Noordan replaced a potentially injured Fran Kirby (Brighton) 

Second Half: 

The high pressure from Man City came as soon as the second half got underway as Vivienne Miedema hit two shots wide from close range in the opening five minutes.  

This high press continued and eventually paid off as in the 59^th minute Ouahabi’s cross reached Bunny Shaw and the ball was headed into the goal by City’s all time highest goal scorer; Brighton keeper Nnadozie got a hand to it however she couldn’t keep it out. The score-line was now level as City had brought one back and looked to find their second to take the lead. 

There were shots from both teams however it was City with the higher press this half as they tried to punish the tired legs of the Brighton players. 

Noordan had a good attempt on goal to regain the lead for Brighton in the 70^th minute however it didn't reach the back of the net as the score-line still remained level. 

Man City were the ones to break the score-line once again this half as Hasegawa’s shot couldn’t be saved by Albion’s backline in the 70^th minute and City took the lead for the first time this match. 

Brighton were now trailing for the first time this match despite their huge efforts in the first half; they were unable to keep the same level of momentum and high pressure in the second half. They tried to fight for a late equaliser however they were unable to do so as they drew closer to the final whistle, eventually running out of time to find the back of the net. 

Second Half Bookings: 

-Charlie Rule: 84’ (Brighton) 

Second Half Substitutions: 

-Marit Auee replaced Rachel McLauchlan due to an injury: 63’ (Brighton) 

-Kiko Seike replaced Bex Rayner: 63’ (Brighton) 

-Kerolin replaced Iman Beney: 63’ (City) 

-Aoba Fujino replaced Viv Miedema: 63’ (City) 

-Rosa Kafaji replaced Madison Haley: 81’ (Brighton) 

-Naomi Layzell replaced Leila Ouahabi: 84’ (City) 

-Carla Camacho replaced Maisie Symonds: 88’ (Brighton) 

Full Time: 

After an exciting first half from the visitors Brighton and Hove Albion, where they took the lead and scored the first goal, the withdrawal of the goal scorer Fran Kirby, due to a potential injury, caused the momentum to shift towards the home team as they took advantage of this and therefore came from behind to win 2-1.