Courtney Nevin contributed an assist, Mary Fowler played 90 minutes and Kyra Cooney-Cross debuted as the 2023/24 WSL season got underway on Sunday.
Read our recap of all of the Matildas Abroad action from England and around the globe below.
England
Brighton & Hove Albion started their season with a 2-1 victory over Everton. Two early goals to Elisabeth Terland proved too much for Everton to overturn. Clare Wheeler came off the bench in the 85th minute for the Toffees but was unable to inspire them to a late winner. Meanwhile, fellow Aussie Charlie Rule made her debut for Brighton in the 75th minute.
Courtney Nevin started for Leicester City and picked up an assist as they defeated newly promoted Bristol City 4-2. Bristol scored first through Carrie Jones but four consecutive goals for the Foxes were enough to seal three points. Remy Siemsen was unavailable for selection with an ankle injury.
Liverpool were shock victors in front of over 50,000 people at the Emirates as Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross were unable to prevent a 1-0 defeat. Arsenal was in complete control but could not find a way past Liverpool’s resolute defence, and a second-half goal to Miri Taylor silenced the record crowd.
Catley and Foord started the game down the left flank, while Cooney-Cross entered the field of play for her Arsenal debut in the 86th minute. Teagan Micah was an unused sub for the winning team.
Goals from Lauren Hemp and Jill Roord were enough for Manchester City to defeat West Ham 2-0 in their season opener. Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy both started and played 90 minutes for City.
Meanwhile, West Ham captain Mackenzie Arnold saved a penalty but was unable to salvage a result for her side.
Finally, in the late fixture, Sam Kerr was unavailable for selection as Chelsea overcame Tottenham Hotspur 2-1. She was rested as she continued to return to full fitness after the World Cup. Goals to Lauren James and Mia Fishel got the job done for the defending champions.
Sweden
Amy Sayer started for Kristianstads DFF as they played out a scoreless draw against Brommapojkarna. The dropped points are a blow to their European qualification hopes, now six points adrift of third place with only four rounds remaining.
Meanwhile, Clare Polkinghorne, Katrina Gorry and Charli Grant all started and played 90 minutes as Vittsjö GIK defeated Linköping 2-1. Goals to Sarah Stratigakis on either side of a Yuka Momiki equaliser helped Vittsjö to the win. They are now only one win away from the top three.
Aivi Luik's BK Häcken defeated Norrköping 1-0 thanks to a penalty in the first-half from Elin Rubsensson. Luik did not appear in the matchday squad for the victory.
France
Ellie Carpenter walked away with bragging rights as Lyon defeated Clare Hunt’s PSG 1-0 thanks to a first-half Eugenie Le Sommer goal. Carpenter started the game and played the full 90 minutes at her familiar right-back position. Hunt is yet to appear in a matchday squad for PSG.
Spain
Real Madrid defeated Granadilla Tenerife 2-1 courtesy of goals from Signe Bruun and Maite Oroz. Hayley Raso started for the Spanish giants for the first time and played the first 60 minutes of the fixture.
USA
Emily van Egmond played the full game in midfield as her San Diego Wave side defeated Portland Thorns 2-0 to go top of the NWSL ladder with two rounds remaining. Goals to Kyra Carusa and Alex Morgan sealed the win for the Wave.
WE'RE IN, SAN DIEGO! 🌊 pic.twitter.com/TADBSxNWe4
— x - San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) October 1, 2023
Wave became the first side to book their playoff spot this season with the victory, the side has two regular season games remaining before they kick off their second playoff campaign.
Mexico
Alex Chidiac made her starting debut for Tigres UANL, helping her side to a 3-0 victory over UNAM. Chidiac played her part in Tigres' opening goal, a stingy shot from outside the box from the Australian midfielder was not dealt with by UNAM's goalkeeper, with Maricarmen Reyes finishing from close range.
1️⃣4️⃣ gritos de gol esta temporada para @reyeszmari.@Bitso pic.twitter.com/RT69FRvWNM
— Club Tigres Femenil 🐯 (@TigresFemenil) October 3, 2023
Reyes' pressure in the box forced an own goal to give Tigres a 2-0 advantage heading into the break. Greta Espinoza made it three after the break. Chidiac was replaced in the 65th minute as her side saw out the win and kept the spot at the top of the table, four points clear of Club América.