Manchester City still dey drive for WSL title, but dem don make life hard for themselves. Brighton beat dem 3-2 on Saturday, and dat don cost dem chance to be champion next week. Now, di trophy fit no decide until final day.
Andree Jeglertz don win 16 from im first 19 WSL games as head coach. But im 20th league game na one to forget. Brighton bounce back from early opener to punish City wey no score when dem get chance.
“I no dey worry. You learn plenty for these games and I fully sure say when we come back for training, we go focus for Liverpool next week,” Jeglertz tell Sky Sports. “E still dey our hands. We go do everything we fit to finish with two wins.”
If Arsenal win all dia three games in hand, wey start with bottom side Leicester City on Wednesday, dem fit put pressure on City. But e be City wey get chance to lose am. Dem go look for ruthlessness for dia remaining two matches: Liverpool at home and West Ham away on final day. If Jeglertz side win those, Arsenal no fit stop City from lifting silverware.
Former Scotland captain Rachel Corsie assess City situation for Sky Sports: “A tiny feeling of doubt don open up. We tink say e don cut and dried, but dat na wobble.” Former Manchester City and England midfielder Izzy Christiansen add: “City no near dia best and dis make end to season plenty more interesting.”
On Saturday, City create plenty chances to add to Kerolin opener for fifth minute, but she and Khadija Shaw both fail to convert when dem through on goal. Brighton equalise on stroke of half-time and carry dat momentum into second half.
“E about details,” Jeglertz say. “E be tough game, but e about scoring goals. We create plenty chances for first half and we need to score. Once momentum shift for Brighton favour, City struggle to cope with hosts transitions and look vulnerable to balls behind backline.”
“Brighton challenge us plenty. We need to protect our penalty box better,” Jeglertz add. “E important we learn from dis game. Today, we drop small percentages for some moments and we get punished.”
Before kick-off, Jeglertz concede say international break don long. Near three-week gap between games no fit help maintain momentum, while experienced Vivianne Miedema miss dis game for family reasons. “Dia performance shaky and dia possession no near level we don see dis season,” Corsie say. “To dia credit, Brighton excellent after tough opening period and thoroughly deserving of only dia second WSL win over City for 15 attempts.”
“For first half we be, if I fit be blunt, awful,” Brighton former England midfielder Fran Kirby say. “We lucky not to be 3-0 or 4-0. But we get belief and second half na really good performance from everyone.”
E now 10 years since Manchester City win title, and since den dem don involve for some close shaves. For 2020-21, dem win 12 games in row to keep pressure on Emma Hayes dominant Chelsea, but 2-2 draw with defending champions with two games left cost dem. Under Gareth Taylor for 2023-24, City hold six-point lead at top of table late for campaign. After Chelsea win dia game in hand to close gap to three, City concede twice for dying minutes to lose 2-1 to Arsenal. Chelsea subsequently win title on goal difference.
For neat twist to narrative, City play against dia former boss Taylor Liverpool for dia next WSL game on Sunday, 3 May. Arsenal face major test of dia squad strength to capitalise on City latest slip. Renee Slegers side must win all five of dia remaining games, and hope say City drop points. With two-leg Women Champions League semi-final against Lyon to deal with, di Gunners fit get too much for dia plate.
“I no tink City should worry. For situations all season dem don show tremendous character, resilience and creativity. Brighton catch dem off guard small today,” Christiansen say. Even so, Manchester City go wary of possible peril of slipping again. “While e still dey our hands, we need to stay really positive and look forward to next week,” City captain Alex Greenwood say. “Two cup finals, two wins – dat di mentality moving forward.”
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