Live Blog: Arsenal Women can secure second place finish with win over Brighton

Arsenal travel to Crawley with European football already secured for next season




Live BLog Monday May 5th

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  1. Freddie Cardy: 17:57 #7355

    Full time: Brighton 4-2 Arsenal

  2. Freddie Cardy: 17:56 #7354

    90+7’ Off the crossbar! Nighswonger almost adds another wondergoal to this game from range, a whisker away. 4-2

  3. Freddie Cardy: 17:54 #7353

    90+5’ Close again! Another stunning save from Baggaley to keep out Russo from producing a very nervy end to this game. What a save. 4-2

  4. Freddie Cardy: 17:51 #7352

    90+3’ Goal! Mariona with an excellent strike to make it 4-2, with four added minutes remaining. Did well to intercept and it’s a top drawer finish. 4-2

  5. Freddie Cardy: 17:48 #7351

    90+1’ Pelova replaces Foord. 7 added minutes. 4-1

  6. Freddie Cardy: 17:45 #7350

    87’ Kelly sends in a free-kick and Catley spins to see her shot blocked. Arsenal keep the crosses coming in to no avail. 4–1

  7. Freddie Cardy: 17:42 #7349

    84’ Superb sliding tackle by Williamson on Parris as she got into a good area before Kelly is fouled. 4-1

  8. Freddie Cardy: 17:40 #7348

    82’ Blackstenius has just not made it work upfront, turning in the box and then a low shot/cross saved easily by Baggaley. 4-1

  9. Freddie Cardy: 17:38 #7347

    80’ Just wide for Seike as Brighton almost make it five. Great work by Auee to send the cross in. 4-1

  10. Freddie Cardy: 17:35 #7346

    77’ A goal-line scramble as Brighton eventually clear, under real pressure now. Foord then drags her shot wide. 4-1

  11. Freddie Cardy: 17:33 #7345

    75’ Russo crosses and Blackstenius miscues her first header, before heading wide from Nighswonger’s cross. 4-1

  12. Freddie Cardy: 17:31 #7344

    72’ Foord finds Kelly in the box and her shot is blocked. Brighton deserve these three points, Arsenal have had a Bank Holiday to forget and seem to still be on the plane back from Lyon, or to Lisbon. 4-1

  13. Freddie Cardy: 17:27 #7343

    70’ Sophie Baggaley only started after Melina Loeck was injured in the warm-up but she has been outstanding. Arsenal persisting with floating crosses in and she’s just claiming every one with ease. 4-1

  14. Freddie Cardy: 17:26 #7342

    68’ Good cross by Foord but Baggaley claims again. 4-1

  15. Freddie Cardy: 17:23 #7341

    65’ Arsenal need quick goals, and they’ve been very good at that under Slegers. At the moment, it’s still Brighton who are pushing forward, as Parris heads over from Seike. 4-1

  16. Freddie Cardy: 17:20 #7340

    62’ The subs are involved immediately as Kelly’s dainty cross is nodded towards goal by Blackstenius, it hits the hand of Hayes but no penalty. 4-1

  17. Freddie Cardy: 17:18 #7339

    59' Changes for Arsenal as Mead, Kelly, Maanum and McCabe are replaced by Kelly, Blackstenius, Walti and Nighswonger. 4-1

  18. Freddie Cardy: 17:17 #7338

    59’ Mead is picked out by Foord but her header is straight at the goalkeeper. 4-1

  19. Freddie Cardy: 17:14 #7337

    56’ Arsenal have conceded 9 goals in one game and 55 minutes 4-1

  20. Freddie Cardy: 17:13 #7336

    54’ Goal! Arsenal are crumbling again. Seike bursts through in behind and finds the net in style to make it 4-1 to Brighton

  21. Freddie Cardy: 17:11 #7335

    53’ Goal! Cankovic completes her brace with a lob over Zinsberger and Brighton double their lead. 3-1

  22. Freddie Cardy: 17:10 #7334

    52’ Early cross into the box for Parris as Zinsberger races out, just putting her under enough pressure to prod the shot wide. Strange bit of play! 2-1

  23. Freddie Cardy: 17:08 #7333

    50’ Little’s shot is deflected but drops for Maanum. Brighton defend well to stop any shot from the Norwegian. 2-1

  24. Freddie Cardy: 17:05 #7332

    47’ Seike runs in behind and just takes too long to make a decision with Williamson staying alongside her well to then intercept. 2-1

  25. Freddie Cardy: 17:03 #7331

    46’ Kirby is replaced by Noordam at half time- surprising! We’re underway. 2-1

  26. Freddie Cardy: 16:52 #7330

    A nervy start from Arsenal with too many mistakes in this first half but Brighton have scored two special goals to lead 2-1, with Sophie Baggaley excellent at the other end to keep out a number of shots.

  27. Freddie Cardy: 16:48 #7329

    Half time: Brighton 2-1 Arsenal.

  28. Freddie Cardy: 16:46 #7328

    46’ Two added minutes. 2-1

  29. Freddie Cardy: 16:45 #7327

    43’ Goal! Fair play, Arsenal have conceded two screamers this afternoon, as Cankovic slams a volley past Zinsberger after Maanum heads away the corner. What a hit that is. 2-1

  30. Freddie Cardy: 16:42 #7326

    42’ Seike crosses for Parris and the ball bounces awkwardly, meaning her scuffed shot causes no issues for Zinsberger. 1-1

  31. Freddie Cardy: 16:41 #7325

    41’ Why don’t you come on over, Baggaley? She does, saving Maanum’s strike that looked destined for the net. That first sentence makes sense if you sing it… 1-1

  32. Freddie Cardy: 16:39 #7324

    39’ Another block as Hayes gets down low to keep out Russo. Much better from the away side. 1-1

  33. Freddie Cardy: 16:39 #7323

    39’ Brighton attack and Kirby is dragged down as she plays the ball into the box, which Arsenal win back. Russo scampers down the right and Maanum’s shot is blocked. 1-1

  34. Freddie Cardy: 16:37 #7322

    36’ Baggaley again! Good save as Mariona winds up a curling effort from the edge of the box. 1-1

  35. Freddie Cardy: 16:36 #7321

    35’ Low ball from Russo into Mead who just couldn’t sort her feet out and miscued the effort. 1-1

  36. Freddie Cardy: 16:32 #7320

    32’ Wonderful block from Williamson, sliding in to deny Seike! 1-1

  37. Freddie Cardy: 16:31 #7319

    29’ Goal! Lovely ball in from Mariona and Foord’s shot is saved before she turns in the rebound to equalise! 1-1

  38. Freddie Cardy: 16:28 #7318

    28’ Little breaks into the box and her shot is well saved by Baggaley! 1-0

  39. Freddie Cardy: 16:27 #7317

    26’ Sarina Wiegman is in attendance, as is the Brighton Men manager Fabian Hurzeler. 1-0

  40. Freddie Cardy: 16:25 #7316

    25’ Chance for Maanum from a narrow angle and Baggaley saves at her near post. 1-0

  41. Freddie Cardy: 16:25 #7315

    25’ Foord races down the left and her low cross is cleared before Mead plays back into midfield, and then all the way to Zinsberger. 1-0

  42. Freddie Cardy: 16:22 #7314

    21’ First booking of the game as Olislagers drags down Fox. 1-0

  43. Freddie Cardy: 16:19 #7313

    19’ If I’m a Brighton fan, I’m spending the rest of the day watching that Kirby goal on loop. Stunning technique, with no chance for Zinsberger whatsoever. 1-0

  44. Freddie Cardy: 16:18 #7312

    17’ Arsenal respond as Foord’s cross is headed onto the post by Russo! 1-0

  45. Freddie Cardy: 16:17 #7311

    16’ Goal! Mead loses possession to Hayes’ tackle, Cankovic finds Kirby and she picks out the postage stamp with a beauty of a goal. 1-0

  46. Freddie Cardy: 16:12 #7310

    12’ It’s been thrills and spills (mainly spills) so far as this time a Brighton backpass is wide of Baggaley’s goal and out for a corner! 0-0

  47. Freddie Cardy: 16:11 #7309

    10’ Now Williamson appears at the right-back position not for the first time in this game and floats in a cross, claimed by the keeper. 0-0

  48. Freddie Cardy: 16:07 #7308

    7’ Better from Arsenal as Foord hangs up a cross which Baggaley claims. 0-0

  49. Freddie Cardy: 16:05 #7307

    5’ Goodness me. A strong back-pass to Zinsberger from Mariona has to be cleared off the line by the goalkeeper, before Foord rounds Baggaley up the other end but misses the target after a great cross from Russo! 0-0

  50. Freddie Cardy: 16:04 #7306

    4’ Both of these sides like to play out from the back and Arsenal were almost caught out there as Brighton pressed well. Good start from the home side. 0-0

  51. Freddie Cardy: 16:02 #7305

    2’ And then Symonds takes aim from range after Kirby caught Mariona, her shot saved easily. 0-0

  52. Freddie Cardy: 16:02 #7304

    1’ Seike gets past Zinsberger after Little gives the ball away. She’s forced away and the goalkeeper does well to tip the shot from Cankovic over. 0-0

  53. Freddie Cardy: 16:00 #7303

    1’ Underway in Crawley for Arsenal’s final away game of the season (the Champions League final doesn’t count!) 0-0

  54. Freddie Cardy: 16:00 #7302

    1’ Underway in Crawley for Arsenal’s final away game of the season (the Champions League final doesn’t count!) 0-0

  55. Freddie Cardy: 16:00 #7301

    1’ Underway in Crawley for Arsenal’s final away game of the season (the Champions League final doesn’t count!) 0-0

  56. Freddie Cardy: 15:59 #7300

    Alessia Russo is level on 12 goals with Bunny Shaw at the top of the WSL standings- can she go in front today?

  57. Freddie Cardy: 15:57 #7299

    Here come the teams!

  58. Freddie Cardy: 15:56 #7298

    Over 4,000 fans are in attendance in Crawley, with yet another packed-out Arsenal away end.

  59. Freddie Cardy: 15:55 #7297

    Sophie Baggaley starts in goal for Brighton after Melina Loeck was injured in the warmup.

  60. Freddie Cardy: 15:53 #7296

    Brighton are looking to secure their best ever WSL finish, with the Seagulls currently 5th- above Liverpool only on goal difference, with their game in hand to come in a few minutes' time.

  61. Freddie Cardy: 15:47 #7295

    Arsenal secured European football yesterday without kicking a ball as the points were shared between the two Manchester clubs. Beat Brighton, and second place will be confirmed- helpful when it comes to reaching the UWCL group stage.

  62. Freddie Cardy: 15:45 #7294

    Slegers: "Right now our only focus is on Brighton and we want to make the right decisions for today."

  63. Freddie Cardy: 15:44 #7293

    Renée Slegers speaking to Sky: "We want to be consistent in everything we do, that's when we're at our strongest, delivering the same thing in training and in games, every day."

  64. Freddie Cardy: 15:40 #7292

    Never a dull day in the WSL, hey?

  65. Freddie Cardy: 15:39 #7291

    Poppy Pattinson, Maria Thorisdottir, Guro Bergsvand, Dejana Stefanovic and Pauline Bremer will be leaving Brighton next month when their contracts expire- the players took to social media earlier today to announce their individual departures.

  66. Freddie Cardy: 15:37 #7290

    Brighton are without Arsenal loanee Michelle Agyemang, who cannot play against her parent club.

  67. Freddie Cardy: 15:37 #7289

    Brighton subs: Baggaley, Masaka, Miranda, McLauchlan, Noordam, Rayner, Rule, Stafanovic, Vilamala.

  68. Freddie Cardy: 15:36 #7288

    Brighton manager Dario Vidosic tells Sky Sports he didn't know about the Seagulls players leaving the club being made public on their social media today.

  69. Freddie Cardy: 15:35 #7287

    Brighton: Loeck; Olislagers, Thorisdottir, Bergsvand, Hayes, Auee; Symonds, Kirby, Cankovic, Seike; Parris.

  70. Freddie Cardy: 15:33 #7286

    Subs: Williams, Wubben-Moy, Ilestedt, Nighswonger, Walti, Cooney-Cross, Pelova, Kelly, Blackstenius.

  71. Freddie Cardy: 15:32 #7285

    Arsenal: Zinsberger; McCabe, Catley, Williamson, Fox; Mariona, Little; Foord, Maanum, Mead; Russo.

  72. Freddie Cardy: 15:32 #7284

    And speaking of the team, here goes. Six changes!

  73. Freddie Cardy: 15:29 #7283

    It really doesn't feel like a Bank Holiday- a grey Monday, rainy in Crawley even, and this 4pm kick-off just seems strange. This time of the season is strange, as was Arsenal's 5-2 defeat at Villa Park on Wednesday. Less of that today, suggests Renée Slegers' team selection.

  74. Freddie Cardy: 15:27 #7282

    Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of some Bank Holiday footy as Brighton host Arsenal Women in Crawley.


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