Reading dented City’s waning title hopes, Everton and Brighton faced off in what looked like an intra-club friendly, and Arsenal swapped kids for the GOAT. All that and more in Beyond90‘s weekly whip around the Old Dart.
Match of the Round: Arsenal 6 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vivianne Miedema etched her name alongside greats of the English game such as Jimmy Greaves, Kelly Smith and Dixie Dean, becoming the leading goalscorer in WSL history as Arsenal swept local rivals Tottenham Hotspur aside 6-1 at Meadow Park on Sunday.
Winger Caitlin Foord scored a double after Irish left-back Katie McCabe‘s cracking opener, but it was Miedema who stole the headlines, becoming the first WSL player to hit a half-century of goals and surpassing England striker Nikita Parris as the league’s greatest-ever markswoman.
Top of the charts 🥇@VivianneMiedema 🐐 pic.twitter.com/rPtiwsbCNd
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) October 19, 2020
Missing eight players through injury – including right-back Leonie Maier, who dropped out of the just before kick-off, and Steph Catley, still nursing a calf complaint – Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro was only able to name a 15-player squad, with Lydia Williams once again among the substitutes.
Still without American striker Alex Morgan, Spurs were mainly unburdened by any great injury concerns, but that didn’t stop Karen Hills ringing the changes as five new faces graced the starting line-up.
Any hopes Tottenham had of surprising this comparatively new-look Arsenal side were dashed almost immediately by an incredible free-kick from McCabe, whose powerful effort from the most acute of angles thundered in off the woodwork with only four minutes played.
The Gunners doubled their advantage through their Dutch striker three minutes later, Miedema fizzing a low shot inside the far post from next to the by-line after Daniëlle van de Donk‘s silky one-two pass found her in the box.
Foord added to Arsenal’s tally on the quarter-hour mark, finding herself on the end of a lovely lofted pass from centre-half Leah Williamson, pushing away from Spurs defender Anna Filbey and slotting calmly under the sprawling Rebecca Spencer.
https://twitter.com/ArsenalWFC/status/1317895577875763200
With trans-Tasman duo Alanna Kennedy and Ria Percival patrolling the centre of midfield, Spurs looked to stem the tide as the first half wore on, but those efforts proved fruitless 10 minutes from halftime, with Miedema adding her second for the afternoon and Arsenal’s fourth.
Sent down the blindside at a set piece by McCabe, Miedema took control just inside the Spurs box with the outside of her right foot, whipping her shot off the sliding Kennedy and inside the near post from a tight angle.
It wasn’t long before Miedema had her hat-trick, but it wasn’t without assistance, her well-weighted through-ball finding Foord in the box before the Matildas winger turned provider, squaring a pass to her Dutch teammate for her to tap home untouched.
Spurs were given a gilt-edged chance to peg a goal back from the spot after McCabe swung wildly at a loose ball near the Arsenal goal, catching substitute Lucía León with her follow-through. Unfortunately for the visitors it wasn’t to be however, as Rhianna Dean drew a fine save from Manuela Zinsberger, failing to find the net against her former employers.
https://twitter.com/BarclaysFAWSL/status/1318210553882406913
Arsenal found their sixth moments after, and it was again Foord who was on target, side-footing Beth Mead‘s cross into Ashley Neville’s heel before it bobbled away from Kennedy and across the goal line.
Miedema was withdrawn on 65 minutes, replaced by young defender Carlotte Wubben-Moy, with Foord moving into the centre of Arsenal’s attacking three, and McCabe moving into Foord’s previous position on the left.
Spurs finally got one back with just under a quarter-hour to play, and it wasn’t for want of trying, with León heading home her side’s first-ever goal in a competitive fixture against Arsenal from a well-struck Siri Worm corner.
With tackles flying in from all angles, Hills withdrew Kennedy as the clock ticked into second-half stoppage time, replaced by debutant Elish Sulola.
It was all for naught, Arsenal once again dominant in the north London derby, with Montemurro and his threadbare team claiming all three points.
https://twitter.com/ArsenalWFC/status/1318234267164475393
Reading 1 – 1 Manchester City
The Royals held City to a draw for the first time in the club’s WSL history, making the most of Norwegian striker Amalie Eikeland‘s third-minute opener and a paltry 33% possession to snatch a point from last year’s runners-up. Sam Mewis scored City’s equaliser but her side couldn’t crack Reading’s defence, forced to share the points with their mid-table rivals.
🎥 Highlights from Sunday's game against @ManCityWomen at Madejski
🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/vHIy5L6gTB
— Reading FC Women (@ReadingFCWomen) October 20, 2020
Bristol 0 – 4 Birmingham City
Birmingham City made it two wins on the spin as they dispatched bottom-placed Bristol City with a four-goal thrashing at Twerton Park. Goals to ex-Canberra United skipper Rachel Corsie, Mollie Green, Claudia Walker, and a Christie Murray penalty set the Blues on their way, though the victory was soured by a last-minute red card for substitute Abbi Grant, who will now miss her side’s home fixture against West Ham next weekend. Ella Mastrantonio and Chloe Logarzo both started for the Robins, with Logarzo playing out the 90 minutes and Mastrantonio being withdrawn at half-time.
Four goals, four different scorers and another clean sheet. ✊
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆. 😍 pic.twitter.com/adS9AsN1Zv
— Birmingham City Women (@BCFCWomen) October 18, 2020
Everton 2 – 2 Brighton & Hove Albion
High-flying Everton was ironically brought back to earth by the Seagulls as the two sides played out an incredible 2-2 draw at Walton Hall Park on Merseyside. Goals to Izzy Christiansen and Valérie Gauvin put the hosts ahead after Rikke Sevecke’s unfortunate own-goal in the opening minutes, but Brighton grabbed a point late on through Aileen Whelan, who slid in at close range to cap a brilliant team move. Hayley Raso started on the left side of Everton’s attacking trio, playing the full match, while Rebekah Stott was an unused substitute for the visitors.
https://twitter.com/EvertonWomen/status/1317828331501457415
West Ham United 2 – 4 Manchester United
Emily van Egmond notched her first goal in the WSL as her West Ham side went down 4-2 to Manchester United at Victoria Road. American imports Tobin Heath and Christen Press both scored their maiden goals in English club football, with striker Alessia Russo grabbing a brace for the visitors, while Houston Dash loanee Rachel Daly netted the Hammers’ second goal. Mackenzie Arnold retained her starting spot for West Ham, while van Egmond played the full 90 minutes despite picking up a booking just after half time.
https://twitter.com/ManUtdWomen/status/1318114670889246721
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Arsenal | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 5 | +25 | 15 |
| 2 | Everton | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 3 | +13 | 13 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 5 | +9 | 13 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 2 | +12 | 10 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 8 |
| 6 | Reading | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 7 |
| 7 | Birmingham City | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 6 |
| 8 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 | −6 | 5 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 13 | −10 | 1 |
| 10 | West Ham United | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 18 | −13 | 1 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | −10 | 0 |
| 12 | Bristol City | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 20 | −19 | 0 |
