It was a buzzing Women’s Football Weekend, with a number of tight matches across the board. Read below to see how our Australians and New Zealanders abroad players performed.
Match of the Round: Manchester United 2 – 2 Manchester City
The Manchester derby was a football spectacle, with United coming back from trailing 2-0 at half time to equalise. Chloe Kelly scored for Manchester City after just nine minutes from a clever flick past the keeper at the six-yard box. Laura Coombs doubled the lead in the added time period of the first half, picking up a loose ball and smashing it into the back of the net.
Manchester United were totally outplayed in the first half, with City unlucky to not be up by four or five goals. However, the second half saw an impressive comeback from United. A misplaced pass from Lucy Bronze in defence was ambushed by Tobin Heath, who slotted the ball into the corner of the goal just inside the area to make the score 2-1. But United weren’t done there – the equaliser came in the 74th minute, with substitute Kirsty Hanson scoring from a rebound after a corner, making the final score 2-2.
Manchester United picked up a point despite their poor first half performance and continue to sit at the top of the table with 17 points to their name. Meanwhile, City remains in fifth place on 12 points.
https://twitter.com/BarclaysFAWSL/status/1328291728588214272
Aston Villa 0 – 1 Birmingham
Claudia Walker scored the only goal of the second city derby on Sunday, winning the game for Birmingham and bringing her total goal tally to six. Birmingham City are now in sixth place on nine points, while Aston Villa is in tenth place with three points after winning one game in the campaign so far.
Everton 1 – 1 Reading
Everton took the lead in the 39th minute, with Simone Magill heading the ball into the goal from a rebound after Nicoline Sorensen’s shot was saved. Reading had a quick reply, levelling the score line just three minutes later via a cross-shot from Natasha Harding that deceived the keeper.
Hayley Raso played the full 90 minutes for the Toffees, who are now winless in their last three matches but sitting in fourth place. Meanwhile, Reading are in seventh after their third consecutive draw.
Bristol City 2 – 2 Tottenham Spurs
It was a bottom of the table clash with Tottenham Hotspurs travelling to Bristol City in the hopes of notching their first win of the season. Chloe Logarzo scored the first goal for Bristol, converting from the spot in the 37thminute after Siri Worm made a dangerous challenge in the box. Worm made up for it with a goal of her own from a free kick just before half time, sending the teams into the dressing sheds at 1-1.
What's cooler than being cool?
🧊 @CLogarzo pic.twitter.com/EAXWGpIojo
— Bristol City Women (@bristolcitywfc) November 16, 2020
The second half saw Tottenham go in front after Ashleigh Neville headed the ball home from a free kick. Bristol eventually brought the score to a stalemate one again in added time as Ebony Salmon got behind the Spurs defence and slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Alex Morgan made her first start for Tottenham this week but was substituted at half time for Rianna Dean. Logarzo and Alanna Kennedy both played the full 90 minutes of the match, with Ella Mastrantonio returning from isolation to the bench. Bristol were without their manager Tanya Oxtoby on Saturday as she has tested positive for COVID-19 and began the 10-day isolation period in line with government guidelines.
📝 Following a round of COVID -19 testing #BristolCityWomen can confirm that Tanya Oxtoby has tested positive and begun a 10-day self-isolation period as per Public Health England guidelines.
Everyone at the club wishes Tanya a speedy and full recovery.
— Bristol City Women (@bristolcitywfc) November 13, 2020
West Ham 0 – 1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton won their second game of the campaign so far on Sunday thanks to Rianna Jarrett who flicked the ball over the head of keeper Mackenzie Arnold at the 69th minute mark. Arnold and Emily van Egmond both played the full match, with Brighton now in eighth place and West Ham in ninth.
👏 @RiannaJarrett with the winner for @BHAFCWomen! @westhamwomen 🆚 @BHAFCWomen
📺 Highlights & Full Match on the FA Player! 👇
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) November 16, 2020
Arsenal 1 – 1 Chelsea
Second placed Arsenal and third placed Chelsea came away with a draw on Monday. Beth Mead thought she’d won the game for her side after she scored in the 86th minute, but an own goal from Wubben-Moy in added time put the score line back to 1-1.
Caitlin Foord started the match, and almost scored for Arsenal in the 43rd minute after hitting the crossbar twice in a row. Sam Kerr came on in the second half to replace Melanie Leupolz.
😱 @VivianneMiedema's pace
🔥 @BMeado's movement📺 Step this way for full match highlights 👇
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) November 16, 2020
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Manchester United | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 7 | +10 | 17 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 6 | +24 | 16 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 3 | +16 | 15 |
| 4 | Everton | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 8 | +9 | 14 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 8 | +10 | 12 |
| 6 | Birmingham City | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 10 | −1 | 9 |
| 7 | Reading | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 11 | −3 | 9 |
| 8 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 | −7 | 8 |
| 9 | West Ham United | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 20 | −13 | 4 |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 12 | −9 | 3 |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 16 | −10 | 3 |
| 12 | Bristol City | 6 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 30 | −26 | 1 |
