Caitlin Foord scored for Arsenal, Clare Hunt picked up an assist in a dominant win for PSG while Charli Grant and Katrina Gorry made their WSL debuts in a seven-goal thriller.
Read our review of the Matildas Abroad action below.
England
The weekend’s fixtures kicked off with Aston Villa securing a vital 1-0 win over Leicester City. An early goal to Rachel Daly proved enough for the Villans as the victory shot them up the table to seventh place. Courtney Nevin started at left-back for Leicester before being subbed off late in the second half, while Remy Siemsen was an unused substitute.
An early goal to Caitlin Foord helped Arsenal to a 2-1 victory over Everton. Foord’s tap-in gave the Gunners the lead before Dutch international Katja Snoeijs equalised for the Toffees. However, a goal in first-half stoppage time to Beth Mead was enough to secure the three points for Arsenal.
Steph Catley came on late in the second half for the home side, while Kyra Cooney-Cross was an unused substitute. Meanwhile, Clare Wheeler played the full match in midfield for Everton.
A hattrick to Lauren James lifted a Sam Kerr-less Chelsea to a 3-1 victory over Manchester United. Hayley Ladd gave United hope just before half-time when her goal reduced the deficit to 2-1, but James’ third goal in the 85th minute sealed it for the Blues. The win means that Chelsea remain three points ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal in first place.
Elisabeth Terland became the leading WSL goalscorer of all time for Brighton & Hove Albion as her 95th-minute winner secured a 3-2 victory over Bristol City. Bristol came from behind twice and thought they had done enough for a vital point that would have lifted them off the bottom of the ladder before a brilliant finish from Terland broke the hearts of the Robins fans. Charlie Rule was not named in the matchday squad for the Seagulls.
It was a match to forget for Teagan Micah as Manchester City ran riot, defeating Liverpool 5-1. Khadija Shaw showed her class with a hattrick before being replaced by Mary Fowler in the 60th minute. Alanna Kennedy missed out on the matchday squad for Manchester City with a minor injury.
Charli Grant and Katrina Gorry were involved in a thriller for their WSL debuts, with Grant’s Spurs coming out 4-3 winners. Tottenham raced to a 3-1 lead early in the second half before Viviane Asseyi and Amber Tysiak restored parity. However, it was not to be for West Ham – a Jessica Naz winner sealing the result for Spurs.
Gorry started and played the full match in midfield. Her captain Mackenzie Arnold was in goals, but couldn’t do too much about any of Tottenham’s strikes. Grant made her debut as a late second-half substitute as Spurs looked to close out the match.
France
PSG were comprehensive 8-1 victors over Bordeaux. Five different players found themselves on the scoresheet, including braces to Amalie Vangsgaard, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Tabitha Chawinga. Clare Hunt came on as a half-time substitute and picked up an assist for the final goal for Chawinga.
C’est terminé. Nos Parisiennes s’imposent largement au 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐬 𝐏𝐒𝐆 face à Bordeaux ! ❤️💙
⚽️ @GraceGeyoro, Sandy Baltimore 🔥
⚽️⚽️ Doublés de @MarieKatoto, Tabitha Chawinga & Amalie Vangsgaard ! 🔝#PSGFCGB 8️⃣-1️⃣ | #D1Arkema pic.twitter.com/92US55Yb1Z— PSG Féminines (@PSG_Feminines) January 20, 2024
Lyon was made to work for it but ultimately secured the three points against Montpellier with a 2-1 win. Goals to Vanessa Gilles and Ada Hegerberg were enough for the French champions, who played the final 60 minutes with a one-goal buffer and their perfect record in serious jeopardy. Ellie Carpenter came off the bench in the 65th minute.
Paris FC’s match against Le Havre was postponed, meaning that Sarah Hunter did not play this week.