Euro women’s recap: Man City top the WSL, Real Madrid lose

From goalkeeping heroics to drama at each ends of the desk in Germany, these are the key speaking factors from the Women’s Super League (WSL), together with some highlights from Europe.

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Keating’s inventory on the rise as City keep top

There is definitely a precedent at Manchester City for trusting in younger gamers. England regulars Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway as soon as flourished in the senior crew regardless of their lack of expertise, whereas Ellie Roebuck’s gorgeous debut as an 18-year-old in February 2018, when she got here on in the second minute for the injured Karen Bardsley towards Chelsea, confirmed that belief extends to goalkeepers too.

So there must be little shock that 19-year-old Khiara Keating has been given an opportunity between the sticks for City this season. And even much less shock that she has impressed in each recreation. Watching the teenager preserve her third clear sheet in 4 matches, in a 1-0 win over towards Leicester City determined by Chloe Kelly’s Tenth-minute purpose, introduced again reminiscences of Roebuck standing tall towards Chelsea 5 years in the past.

In an excellent match (City had 51% possession and eight pictures on track, to Leicester’s six), Keating trusted in her skills and, repeatedly, discovered the declare, parry or block essential to preserve the opposition out — exhibiting explicit bravery in a single frantic sequence. Much like Roebuck earlier than her, there are nonetheless some tough edges that can naturally easy as she grows into the function. But as City sit atop the WSL desk heading into the worldwide break, there may be little cause for supervisor Gareth Taylor to usher in the more-experienced Roebuck or Sandy MacIver in rotation. Keating’s inventory is definitely on the rise.

Chelsea dominate Brighton after early scare

Goalkeepers are one thing of a theme this week as Brighton’s Sophie Baggaley additionally earned plaudits for her function in purpose regardless of a 4-2 loss to Chelsea. With loanee Nicky Evrard not concerned towards her father or mother membership, Baggaley, who spent the final two years warming the Manchester United bench, pulled off a lot of unimaginable saves to disclaim the Blues an excellent larger scoreline.

Particularly eye-catching throughout a primary half by which she made seven saves, Chelsea boss Emma Hayes famous after the recreation: “The goalkeeper was having a worldie.”

In whole, WSL champions Chelsea had 30 pictures (12 on track) and confirmed their dominance regardless of going behind to an early purpose from Pauline Bremer. Summer signing Sjoeke Nüsken scored twice, earlier than Guro Bergsvand (personal purpose) and substitute Aggie Beever-Jones made it 18 successive WSL residence victories for Hayes’ crew.

Robins present enhancements, however nonetheless haven’t any factors

Ahead of their conflict towards Arsenal, and after a 5-0 defeat to Man City final weekend, Bristol City boss Lauren Smith spoke at size about the methods by which her crew have been rising and making an attempt to be higher, pulling few punches about the defensive enhancements required.

Inside seven minutes, the Robins confirmed the identical naivety that had seen City stroll throughout them to permit Katie McCabe an excessive amount of area exterior the field in her favoured capturing place as she opened the scoring. But, in contrast to final weekend, Bristol City did not permit their heads to drop and so they put in a robust crew efficiency to deflect nearly the whole lot Arsenal may throw at them from thereon in. Rachel Furness’ Sixteenth-minute equaliser gave the hosts hope, however in the end McCabe struck once more with a deflected effort that third-choice goalkeeper Olivia Clark may do little about in the second half to seal a 2-1 win.

The stats (79% possession for Arsenal; 25 pictures to 1) inform the story of 1 world-class crew towards one which spent final season in a semi-pro league. But, roared on by a club-record women’s attendance of 12,008 followers at Ashton Gate, Bristol’s efficiency confirmed a speedy enchancment and provides them some hope for the future regardless of no factors from their first 4 video games.

Real Madrid undergo first defeat of season

With 5 wins from 5 video games in Liga F, Real Madrid could have regarded snug this season. But, having fallen into the acquainted step of grinding out wins extra usually than is snug — Signe Bruun’s Ninetieth-minute winner over Villarreal final weekend a bit too latest in the reminiscence — Las Blancas suffered their first lack of the season, 2-1 at residence to Levante.

In the driving rain on Sunday night, the match noticed loads of particular person performances to notice from Madrid: from purpose scorer Linda Caicedo, to midfield architect Sandie Toletti, and full-back livewire Olga Carmona. Yet the hosts couldn’t discover a response to Gabi Nunes’ header in the second half after Caicedo had cancelled out Paula Fernández’s opener.

It was not the first time that Real have come unstuck towards Levante nevertheless it confirmed simply how a lot they miss ahead Caroline Weir, who’s sidelined with an ACL damage. For the guests, who stay the solely unbeaten aspect in the league alongside Barcelona, albeit with three 1-1 attracts from six video games, it was precisely the sort of end result they wanted. Although they are going to be ruing the timing of the worldwide window because it stops them constructing momentum.

Frauen-Bundesliga delivers drama at each ends of the desk

Before this season’s promotion to the Bundesliga, FC Nürnberg had solely spent one earlier marketing campaign in the top flight: in 1999-2000 when the crew [still over two decades from being integrated into the main club] managed simply 9 factors from their 22 video games. Four video games into this marketing campaign and last-placed Nürnberg had but to get any factors on the board, however targets at both finish of the match proved sufficient as they scooped all three in a 2-0 win towards an inconsistent Freiburg crew to maneuver as much as eleventh.

At the different finish of the desk, top aspect Wolfsburg discovered themselves two targets down at residence to second-placed Hoffenheim inside 45 minutes. After a stinker of per week that noticed them knocked out of the Champions League by Paris FC on Wednesday, issues regarded bleak at half-time on Sunday afternoon. But due to a penalty from Dominque Janssen and last-gasp equaliser from Alex Popp, they managed to keep away from defeat at the fingers of a Hoffenheim crew trying to soar above their rivals.

Damallsvenskan title heads in the direction of the wire

With simply two rounds left of the Swedish season, Yuka Momiki’s stoppage-time strike was sufficient for Linköping to grab a 1-1 draw from title rivals Hammarby, after Ellen Wangerheim had opened the scoring for the hosts on Saturday.

And, contemporary off a Champions League win over Twente in midweek, Häcken took benefit to open up a three-point lead at the top with a 1-0 win towards Uppsala on Sunday. Their subsequent match, a visit to Hammarby, is one that would settle the title with a recreation to spare.

Goal-scoring goalkeeper in the Toppserien

In Norway, Arna-Bjørnar’s No. 1 (okay, their No. 24), Hanne Larsen, stepped up in the 86th minute towards Avaldsnes to hammer a penalty past her reverse quantity, Siri Ervik, to equal the scores at 2-2.

Unfortunately for Larsen, she then needed to pluck Susan Ama Duah’s matchwinner out of the again of her internet three minutes later as Arna-Bjørnar remained rooted to the backside, two factors beneath Avaldsnes.

And lastly … Miedema returns for Arsenal

After 11 months on the sidelines recovering from an ACL damage, Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema got here on for her first minutes of the season deep into stoppage time as Arsenal noticed out a 2-1 win away to Bristol City. The Netherlands worldwide, who’s the WSL’s all-time document scorer with 74 targets, entered the fray half an hour after Beth Mead who additionally returned from an ACL damage final weekend for the Gunners.

“She’s worked so hard over the last few months,” matchwinner McCabe informed Sky Sports after the recreation. “It was a really special moment for Viv.”

Next up for Arsenal is leaders Man City on Nov. 5, so they may want the whole lot they’ve at their disposal.