Brighton 0, Liverpool FC Women 0: Road Point For Reds In Open Match
Brighton: NA
Liverpool: NA
Pre-Match
The Liverpool FC Women travel to Brighton in search of their first consecutive league wins this season. The Reds created some breathing room from the relegation spot last weekend with a win over last place Leicester City. A win over Brighton would see Liverpool just a point behind the Seagulls in the table.
Gareth Taylor has some key squad members back after injury layoffs. Denise O’Sullivan is back in the starting XI to bolster the midfield while Alice Bergstrom is fit enough for the bench. Grace Fisk is forced into the right back spot after Lucy Parry went of injured last weekend and Risa Shimizu still returning from the Asia Cup. Gemma Bonner gets a rare start at center back to fill the gap left by Fisk. With Fuka Nagano also returning from international duty, Kirsty MacLean retains a starting midfield role. The bench is filled with attacking depth, but young Maizie Trueman is the only true midfielder as an option if needed.
First Half
Liverpool get an attack right off the kickoff, getting the ball quickly down the left flank for Alejandra Bernabé. The left back races onto the ball and gets to the end line before driving a cross into the box with a couple of attackers getting forward, but the ball is headed clear just ahead of Beata Olsson.
Mia Enderby does all the hard work to beat a player while under pressure in her defensive half and then scamper away down the right flank. There are bodies in the box to pick out, but her ball in doesn’t have any pace on it and is picked off in the third minute.
Gemma Bonner races over to clear the ball out for a throw just ahead of a Brighton attacker who had been sent through by Fran Kirby. Great job reading the game and fantastic timing on the recovery run by Bonner.
Jennifer Falk makes a simple save on the first attempt of the game. It’s a brilliant chip over the top by Brighton for the run of Rosa Kafaji, with the first time redirection at full stretch putting the ball on net but right at Falk.
Liverpool defense left scrambling as a switch to the right finds Fran Kirby in acres of space. She races forward into the box and tries to slide it across for the run of Rosa Kafaji, but the ball is just behind Kafaji and the Swede can’t get a touch on it.
After a couple of early attacks, Liverpool have struggled to keep hold of the ball fort sustained amounts of time in the Brighton half. The press isn’t quite effective as the hosts are doing well to play around Liverpool. Brighton have had the larger amount of possession and seem to be controlling the midfield midway through the first half.
Liverpool finally do get set in the attacking half, moving the ball around from side to side as they probe for an opening. A couple of balls into the box are partially cleared before the Reds regain possession. After a couple of minutes, the ball falls to Denise O’Sullivan at the top of the box, but she lets it get just too far away from her as she twists and turns away from defenders and the ball is nicked and Brighton counter.
Liverpool get a corner just a minute later after their high press causes a poor pass from Brighton the goes over the end line. The initial corner is cleared, but Liverpool retain possession. A driven ball from the channel is sent into the box and Beata Olsson skims a header towards the goal forcing Chiamaka Nnadozie to make a diving save to her left.
Brighton again expose the Liverpool defense with a simple cross from the left channel for the head of Rosa Kafaji. Jenna Clark clears the ball off the line with her head after an initial chance, but the whistle goes for offside.
Jennifer Falk sends a ball out to the left flank for the run of Alejandra Bernabé, and the Spanish left back manages to get past Rachel McLaughlan and get the ball deep into the attacking half. She has players in the box and gets a dangerous cross away, but the ball bounces just before Cornelia Kapcos and comes up off of her torso and then her arm.
Big chance for Liverpool! Mia Enderby presses high a picks off a square pass at the top of the box. The attacker rips a shot, but it goes over the goal. Enderby has to do better there and at least test the goalkeeper.
Brighton get forward themselves as we get towards the end of the first half. They work it around well and Rosa Kafaji gets into a shooting opportunity, but her attempt goes high.
Ceri Holland races down the left wing to get on the end of a ball played down the line. She gets a step on her defender and gets an effort away from a tight angle. Nnadozie gets across to make the save at the near post.
Liverpool look to keep the attacking play going with Ceri Holland, with the Welsh attacker pretty clearly fouled as she tried to get up to retain possession after slipping down and being trod on the back of her leg. The referee instead calls a foul in favor of Brighton as Holland fall on top of the ball. Weird one. Brighton quickly get forward and Fran Kirby has a go from the right flank. She had options, but instead sends a shot that clears the roof of the stadium behind the goal.
Ceri Holland is becoming much more influential as the half wears on. She again gets forward down the left flank and plays a brilliant ball across the face of goal. It is touched behind for a corner. The set piece is sent into the middle of the box and is cleared.
The referee blows the halftime whistle just a minute later. Brighton have had the edge for large portions of the first half, but Liverpool made some noise in the last 10 minutes. Both sides had a big chance that went wasted. Gareth Taylor has plenty of attacking verve on the bench if needed in the second half.
Second Half
Jennifer Falk is quick to come off her line after a ball over the top for Madison Haley drops dangerously near the top of the box. Falk slides out to get possession of the ball ahead of the striker and manages to stay inside the top of the box.
Liverpool with some rearguard defending as Brighton move the ball around in the attack. Grace Fisk does well to get across and block out a first attempt before Jenna Clark deflects a ball behind for a corner. Cracks are showing for Liverpool as Brighton are finding plenty of spaces for shots.
Grace Fisk sprints forward to get on the ball with and underlap. She tries a first time cross and sees it blocked behind for a corner. Ceri Holland sends the ball into the box and Beata Olsson gets her head to it beyond the near post, and her glancing header goes past the far post for a goal kick.
Some great movement and passing by Liverpool sees the Reds get into the attack after starting deep in their own half. Alejandra Bernabé spots the run of Ceri Holland ahead of her and slides the ball down the line for Holland to collect. Holland gets into the box with players in support, facing up her defender before getting a yard of space and crossing for the head of Beata Olsson. The Swede is just beaten out for the ball, but Liverpool keep possession, getting a couple more balls into the box that they cannot get onto the end of.
A brilliant ball forward for the darting run of Alejandra Bernabé forces Rosa Kafaji into a foul of the Spanish left back. It’s a yellow card to the Brighton player and a free kick to Liverpool about 5 yards from the top left corner of the Brighton box. Ceri Holland plays the set piece low, surprising the Brighton defense. Mia Enderby and Beata Olsson both come within a whisker of getting a touch, but it goes just past both and is cleared away.
Liverpool starting to pile on the pressure. No surprise that Ceri Holland is central to the attacks, with the latest chance coming after she again gets to the end line and sends a good cross into the box. Again Liverpool players just can’t get the right touch.
Incredible recovery run by Jenna Clark as races back to cut off the angle of substitute Nadine Noordam and just get to the ball ahead of her to play it back to Jennifer Falk. It’s a good reminder to Liverpool that Brighton still pose quite a threat on the counter.
Gareth Taylor makes two substitutions in the 65th minute. Martha Thomas comes on for Mia Enderby and Aurélie Csillag replaces Cornelia Kapocs. Csillag goes to the point striker role and Beata Olsson shifts out right. Martha Thomas stays in more of an attacking midfield role.
Aurélie Csillag does well to get on the end of a ball from Kirsty MacLean, holding off a defender as she carries the ball into the box. Unfortunately, Csillag has too heavy of a touch, allowing Nnadozie to come out and collect before the Swiss forward can get a shot away.
Ceri Holland gets shoved in the back as she again beats her defender on the left flank. It’s a yellow card for Maelys Mpomé and a free kick to the Reds. Holland delivers the set piece, whipping it in towards the penalty spot. Beata Olsson gets her head to it, but again her glancing header flashes wide of the far post.
Another big opportunity for Liverpool goes wanting. Martha Thomas with a brilliant ball around the corner for Aurélie Csillag, with the Swiss forward released into space down the right channel. She sprints forward with the ball as Brighton scramble to get back, with Ceri Holland getting into the middle of the box. Maelys Mpomé races across to make a challenge on Csillag, getting a touch to the ball before crashing into the attacker to clear the chance away.
Brighton get forward themselves and see a cross to the far post just miss a connection. The ball is recycled and comes back inside where Denise O’Sullivan is whistled for a foul. Brighton get the free kick into the box, but Liverpool to well to clear the danger.
Beata Olsson twice gets on the ball from a wide area on the right. In both cases she gets a cross away, but both times the ball is too close to Chiamaka Nnadozie and the goalkeeper is able to catch it.
Martha Thomas wins the ball in the Brighton box, and for a moment it looks like she’ll have a chance to take a shot. Manuela Vanegas does a brilliant job to get across and put in a challenge and win the ball back.
Liverpool with some intricate play down the left flank, with Ceri Holland eventually getting a cross away. The ball is partially blocked and Aurélie Csillag pressures a defender enough to force her to put it behind at the near post for a corner kick. Holland sends the ball in and Grace Fisk gets her head to it, but she can’t direct it on net and it goes out for a goal kick.
Brighton get forward down their right flank, with Denise O’Sullivan coming cross to block a cross behind for a corner. The ball in causes a scramble, with Manuela Venegas heading the ball at the goal. Jenna Clark gets the top of her head to it and redirects it onto the bar and Gemma Bonner whacks the ball away after it rebounds off the crossbar. Liverpool defenders scramble to get in blocks to deny Brighton attempts, and eventually the ball goes out for another corner. This time Liverpool manage to clear the ball away.
Oooh, so close from Liverpool! It may have been controversial if it had gone in after Liverpool had a throw in deep in the Brighton half. With the multiball system, Liverpool quickly take the throw in from about 10 yards further back to Aurélie Csillag, and the Swiss striker takes a couple of strides with the ball into the box and drives a low shot on goal. It doesn’t have a ton of power, but Chiamaka Nnadozie mishandles the ball and it hits off her foot as she falls backwards with the ball bouncing across the face of goal and just past the far post for a corner kick.
Cleared off the line! Liverpool send the ball in and Martha Thomas heads it on net. It deflects off the head of Beata Olsson in front of her and loops towards the goal where it is cleared off the line. The referee blows for full time as Liverpool regain possession and look to get the ball back into the box.
Final Thoughts
In the end, a point is likely a fair result as both sides had some pretty solid chances throughout the match, with both teams clearing the ball off the line in extra time. Liverpool grew into the game and were the better side over all in the second half, but just could not convert. Ceri Holland was again the player that seemed to make things happen for the Reds, with both Aurélie Csillag and Martha Thomas having positive impacts as subs.
With the point, the Reds inch further ahead of West Ham and Leicester City, though the Foxes have two games in hand ahead of their match with Aston Villa later today. Liverpool have another big fixture next weekend as they face Everton away in a Merseyside Derby. Gareth Taylor’s side beat the Blues in late February in the Women’s FA Cup.
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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