- By Adam Millington
- ` Sport
45 minutes ago
image source, Getty Images
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Before Sunday, Brighton had lost seven of its eight WSL games against Manchester City and drawn one
Previously unexpected results are becoming more and more the norm in the Women’s Super League – this was definitely one of them.
Brighton finished last year just five points clear of relegation and had never beaten Manchester City before.
With less than ten minutes remaining, Lee Geum-min scored the only goal alongside Pauline Bremer and Brighton – against all odds – completed a stunning victory.
City are one of the traditional WSL title contenders, but this season has shown that the gap between them and the rest of the division is narrowing.
Manager Gareth Taylor deemed it one of City’s most “disappointing” performances in his three-year spell in charge.
Brighton coach Melissa Phillips said: “Gareth and I spoke about it before the game, every team has improved over the summer and every game has become much more competitive.”
“And we are certainly one of the teams that have improved and have great ambitions.”
Brighton took the baton last weekend when United were forced to equalize in the eighth minute of stoppage time in a game they had undoubtedly been favorites to win.
Teams have invested in narrowing the gap between the traditional heavyweights and the rest – and Brighton fits into that category.
Phillips added: “The club has not been shy about sharing its ambitions for the top four and there is no definitive timetable for this. That’s just something we have to work towards every day with the actions we take on and off the field.”
“The club was incredibly supportive of the transfer of players and staff over the summer and supported me in this long-term project.”
“We all want to get from the bottom of the mountain to the top in one step, but we have to take small steps to get there, and this is certainly one.”
“We were off the pace”
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Manchester City’s 35 shots against Brighton were the highest total of any team in a WSL game this season, but were not enough to score a goal
City were dominant against Brighton, hitting the woodwork through Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp, but couldn’t find what they needed to break the stalemate and suffered their second defeat in six WSL games.
“We just didn’t seem ourselves all over the field today,” Taylor said. “Apart from Khiara [Keating] and Chloe, we were really floored. There was something missing, I don’t know what it was.
“There were a few good moments where we moved the ball well and created, but it felt like we took a few chances.”
“Sometimes there are games like that where no matter what you do, no matter how many times you knock on the door, you just can’t get it. For me it’s more.” [feeling] I was a little disappointed with how we played and how we handled those moments.
“We were half a meter off the pace with our passing game. We didn’t have the normal click moments in the game.”
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