Brighton 1, Liverpool FC Women 2: Reds Overtake Gulls With Victory
Ceri Holland provided assists for Olivia Smith and Leanne Kiernan as Liverpool passed Brighton to move into the fifth spot in the WSL.
The Liverpool FC Women traveled to Brighton on Saturday with a chance to pass the hosts in the WSL table with a victory on the day. Manager Amber Whiteley was buoyed with the return of Ceri Holland into the side after the midfielder was feared to be lost for an extended time after an injury while on international duty with Wales.
Whiteley made several changes to the side that lost a tight match to Chelsea in the FA Women’s Cup semifinal last weekend. Grace Fisk moved inside to center back in place of Gemma Evans with Alejandra Bernabé getting a start at left back. Taylor Hinds switched to right back. Ceri Holland went right back into the starting lineup, playing as a left winger in a 4-3-3.
Ceri Holland would make her presence known just moments after kickoff. Just over a minute into the match, Fuka Nagano played a simple ball forward to Holland on the left just past the midfield stripe. Holland carried the ball forward before cutting inside of her defender midway into the attacking half. She played a perfectly flighted ball that carried just over the head of a defender to meet the run of Olivia Smith arriving in the box. Smith took the ball down in full stride with her first touch and smashed it past the goalkeeper with her second to give Liverpool the early lead!
Leanne Kiernan’s movement opened up several shooting chances as the Reds looked to double their lead in the first half. She blazed her first shot high and wide from the middle of the box after being set up by Ceri Holland with her first effort. Kiernan forced a great leaping save with her second shot from a similar area. Her third effort was headed wide of the near post after a ball in by Holland.
Kiernan finally was able to break through late in the first half after some good high pressing by Liverpool. She lead the press as Brighton looked to play the ball out of the back. Ceri Holland raced forward to intercept a pass and quickly played it inside to Kiernan, who was unmarked in the middle of the box. The Irishwoman made no mistake with her first time finish, slotting it low past the goalkeeper to give the Reds a 2-0 lead.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, the good vibes of the late goal were dampened after Olivia Smith was brought down with a late tackle on the right wing in first half extra time. The young attacker stayed down and could not continue, with Cornelia Kapocs coming on in her stead.
While the Reds kicked off the second half with a two goal lead, Liverpool supporters were understandably nervous about protecting the lead as the side have coughed up goals in the second half all season long.
Those worries came to fruition early as Brighton scored just three minutes into the second half. Substitute Kiko Seike carried the ball down the right wing and played a good ball across the face of goal. Taylor Hinds whiffed on her clearance attempt as the ball made its way to Michelle Agyenmang just past the far post. The striker did not get the best contact on the ball, but it was enough to send it bouncing to the far post past Rachael Laws.
Brighton began to see more and more if the ball as the second half wore on. Liverpool did manage to find a couple of decent chances to regain a two goal advantage. Marie Höbinger headed the ball just wide of the near post after a good delivery by Taylor Hinds before Ceri Holland stung the palms of Malina Loeck with a great strike from the top of the box.
Neither side were able to find the net as Liverpool hung on for the win. The victory saw Liverpool leapfrog Brighton for the fifth spot in the table. The Reds will return home next Sunday to host Spurs in their penultimate home match of the season. It will be the last match at St. Helen’s as Liverpool will host Everton at Anfield in two weeks time.
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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