Arsenal lose, the Blues win and both Manchester giants pick up three points. Here’s all the important facts after opening day …
THE GUNNERS STILL LACK THAT CUTTING EDGE IN FRONT OF GOAL
Arsenal were left stunned at home as Liverpool walked away with all three points in front of a
WSL record crowd of 54,115.
Despite not winning a single game away from home last season, it was a goal early in the
second half from former Angel City striker Miri Taylor that inflicted an opening game defeat upon
the Gunners, as well as their third successive league defeat following on the back of last
season.
With most Arsenal fans undoubtedly having high hopes ahead of the new campaign, especially
after the arrivals of England striker Alessia Russo and World Cup star Amanda Illestedt, some
may now be slightly worried and perhaps even more eager to await the return of attacking duo
Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead.
As a crucial trip up North beckons against rivals Manchester United on Friday, Arsenal fans and
players will hope their team can turn up the tempo and find that golden touch in front of goal,
none more than ex-United star Alessia Russo.
REIGNING CHAMPIONS CHELSEA PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF
Without Pernille Harder and Magdalena Eriksson, who departed the blues for Bayern Munich
this Summer, Emma Hayes team stood strong against a resilient Tottenham side.
Debutant Mia Fishel gave Chelsea the lead halfway into the first half with a super header
following a Niamh Charles cross. It wasn’t long until the lead was doubled as Lioness star
Lauren James took centre stage as tapping home the Blues’ second of the afternoon following a
flurry of chances, none more than the controversial decision that denied Guro Reiten a goal as it
appeared to cross the line.
Spurs battled hard and did set up a tense closing 15 minutes when Martha Thomas pulled a
goal back, before Chelsea substitute Jelena Cankovic saw her late goal ruled out for offside with
the match ending 2-1.
JILL ROORD IS BACK IN THE WSL WITH A BANG
After leaving Arsenal for Wolfsburg in 2021, Jill Roord marked her return to the WSL with a
debut goal for the Sky Blues, sealing off a mostly comfortable win despite a late red card to City
player Leila Ouahabi.
In a match that City mostly dominated, West Ham’s defence stood strong and stubborn as they
looked to frustrate the visitors, especially in the first half. It was only following a counterattack
that saw the ball whipped into the feet of Lauren Hemp, that City went 1-0 up as she instinctively
curled the ball into the top corner.
The pedal was set right back on the gas as City were awarded a penalty for an adjudged
handball in the area by Shannon Cooke. Fortunately for West Ham, Kelly was unable to
replicate her Round-of-16 heroics for her nation in the 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Nigeria,
with Arnold guessing the right way and palming her venomous attempt away from goal.
Nevertheless, such disappointment was short-lived as it was only five minutes later that
debutant Roord cooly slotted the ball in the bottom corner on the edge of the area after
producing a phenomenal turn with her back to goal.
Although reduced to 10 players for the remaining 20 minutes after Ouahabi was sent off for
kicking out after Emma Harries’ challenge, City saw the game out giving them a solid victory on
the opening weekend.
FOXES OFF TO A STRONG START AS BRISTOL UNABLE TO MARK THEIR RETURN TO THE TOP FLIGHT
With the highest-scoring game on opening weekend, Leicester overcame Bristol City in a match
that ended 4-2.
An opening goal from debutant Carrie Jones was not enough for three points on Bristol’s return
to the WSL as Leicester midfielder Aimee Palmer set the tie square just before half-time with a
cleanly struck strike from outside the box to the top left corner. The Foxes’ domination of the
game was soon rewarded with a flurry of goals from Shannon O’Brien, Lena Petermann and
Jutta Rentala before Amalie Thestrup added a consolation for the home side.
Such a showing from the Foxes emphasises a clear desire to leave last season’s troubles
behind and push on to achieve a higher finish than the previous campaign.
DALY STILL ON FIRE DESPITE VILLA’S LOSS TO UNITED
Manchester United came from behind to beat an Aston Villa side who lost Kirsty Hanson to a
red card in an enthralling match to start the WSL season.
For all their trading of world-class attackers this summer as Alessia Russo left for Arsenal and
was replaced by the World Cup’s top scorer Hinata Miyazawa, Manchester United were
indebted to the veteran substitute Rachel Williams for securing a dramatic winning start to the
WSL campaign.
Williams snatched a last-minute winner in stoppage time, heading in from a Nikita Parris cross
after Villa were reduced to 10 players when Kirsty Hanson was sent off for a high tackle on
midfielder Hayley Ladd in the second half.
Despite grabbing a shock goal as Rachel Daly drilled the ball into the bottom corner only a
couple minutes after the sending-off, the celebrations were short-lived with United quick to react
as Spanish forward Lucia Garcia pounced on a loose ball in the box from a corner to make it 1-1.
Daly also hit the crossbar early in the second half with one of their best chances
demonstrating just how influential she is to this Claret and Blue side.
Despite the defeat, Villa showed their credentials as a side who hope to break up the WSL’s
usual top four this season, while United used their squad to great effect and found a way to win.
As a vital encounter looms against the Gunners, United will hope they can keep such
momentum going and perhaps go one step further than last year, and become WSL champions.
