Caitlin Foord made it goals in back-to-back games for Arsenal, Sam Kerr picked up an assist in a dominant victory for Chelsea; while Kyra Cooney-Cross and Alanna Kennedy were both named Player of the Match in their side's victories.
Read a summary of the Matildas Abroad action below.
England
Sam Kerr picked up an assist and played a key role in Chelsea’s 5-1 dismantling of Liverpool. A hat-trick to Lauren James was the highlight, as the league leaders put midweek travel behind them to continue to stamp their authority on the league. Teagan Micah recovered from injury to be named in the matchday squad for Liverpool but is still yet to make her first league appearance.
Everton failed to secure a buffer between themselves and relegation after they could only manage a draw against bottom-of-the-table Bristol City. A late equaliser to Amalie Thestrup secured the 2-2 draw for City. Clare Wheeler played the full game for Everton at right wing-back.
Caitlin Foord was on the scoresheet as her Arsenal side defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0. The Gunners led by one goal for much of the game after an early strike from Stina Blackstenius, before goals to Foord and Frida Maanum made sure of the result. Kyra Cooney-Cross started the game in midfield and was named the WSL Player of the Match, while Steph Catley was subbed on in the 65th minute. For the Seagulls, Charlie Rule played 45 minutes after being introduced at half-time.
A stoppage-time goal to Rachel Daly meant that Aston Villa defeated Mackenzie Arnold’s West Ham 3-2 in a thriller. West Ham took the lead through a first-half Viviane Asseyi penalty, but after falling behind, thought they had secured a share of the points through an 80th-minute Lisa Evans goal. Daly thought otherwise and scored the winner in the final minutes of the match.
Courtney Nevin and Remy Siemsen’s Leicester City shared the points with Tottenham Hotspur, with goals to Janice Cayman and Celin Ildusoy meaning that the game finished 1-1. Nevin played the full 90 minutes at left-back while Siemsen, still searching for her first minutes of 2023/24, was an unused substitute.
Alanna Kennedy was named Player of the Match as Manchester City came from behind to spoil Manchester United’s party at Old Trafford, beating their arch-rivals 3-1. An early Katie Zelem penalty gave United the lead but City came roaring back with goals to Jill Roord, Lauren Hemp, and Khadija Shaw. A late red card to Laia Aleixandri meant that City had to defend for the final 20 minutes, but were able to prevent conceding a goal.
The win was a historic one for Gareth Taylor's side, breaking their two-game winless run and beating their rivals in a first-ever Manchester derby held at Old Trafford.
Mary Fowler was a late substitute for City, coming on in the 89th minute.
France
Lyon continued on their merry way in the Division 1 Féminine, defeating Dijon 4-1. The underdogs scored first through Maria Cirauqui, but four unanswered goals secured the deserved win for the league leaders. Ellie Carpenter was an unused substitute for Lyon.
Meanwhile, there was late drama for Clare Hunt’s PSG, squeezing past Fleury 2-1 thanks to a goal to Dutch international Jackie Groenen in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Hunt played the full game in centre-back.
Spain
Barcelona were too good for Real Madrid in the women’s El Clasico, running out comprehensive 5-0 victors. Hayley Raso started the game for Madrid but was one of three players substituted at half-time.
Mexico
Alex Chidiac’s Tigres UANL played out a scoreless draw with Monterrey in the first leg of their semi-final. They now look ahead to the second leg at home, the winner of whom will contest the final. Chidiac was a late second-half substitute.