Matildas Abroad Review: Raso and Kerr on the scoresheet; Lyon and Arsenal remain undefeated

With the international break just around the corner, our Matildas Abroad were in the thick of the action before heading back home to Australia for our two-match series against the USA.

There were two Aussies on the scoresheet in club action; while Denmark wrapped up the season.

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Manchester City was desperate to get back to winning ways when they hosted Emily Gielnik's Aston Villa. 

Hayley Raso came off the bench in the 64th minute for Gareth Taylor's side and made an immediate impact, scoring her first goal in City's colours.

Raso then set up City's fourth of the game, making a run into the box and crossing the ball to a wide-open Lauren Hemp to slot it home.

The winger didn't have to wait long for her second goal in City colours, with the ball ricocheting off the woodwork and falling into Raso's path to wrap up the three points and seal a 5-0 win. 

Emily Gielnik came off the bench for her first appearance for Villa since the end of September, Gielnik had one of the best chances for Villa but was unable to get on the end of a Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah cross to find the back of the net. 

Moving over to the other side of Manchester, United hosted ladder leaders, Arsenal. 

The visitors came close to striking in the first half, with Beth Mead hitting the woodwork. 

Arsenal would have to wait until the second stanza to find the back of the net, with Vivianne Miedema and Katie McCabe scoring to secure the win. 


Steph Catley played the whole game at left-back and made some tantalising runs into the box, while Caitlin Foord came off the bench in the 86th minute and Lydia Williams remained an unused substitute. 

Sam Kerr's Chelsea was aiming to collect their eighth successive win against Birmingham City and got things underway quickly with Fran Kirby scoring four minutes in.

Kerr would have a half to remember, scoring a hat-trick in just 26 minutes, and producing her famous backflip for adoring fans at Kingsmeadow. 

Kirby and Kerr continued to show why they are such a dynamic duo for Emma Hayes' side, linking up again on Chelsea's fifth of the night with Kerr sending in a cross to Kirby.

This win puts Chelsea just two points behind Arsenal on the WSL ladder, making next month's FA Women's Cup Final that much more exciting. 

The final game of the WSL saw Mackenzie Arnold and Tameka Yallop's West Ham United host Kyah Simon's Tottenham Hotspur, with all three making the start. 

Tameka Yallop of West Ham United battles for possession with Cho So-Hyun of Tottenham Hotspur (Photo: GettyImages)
Tameka Yallop of West Ham United battles for possession with Cho So-Hyun of Tottenham Hotspur (Photo: GettyImages)

Both sides traded chances in the first half but couldn't find the go-ahead goal. 

West Ham finally opened the scoring in the second half, with Dagný Brynjarsdóttir scoring the lone goal to give the Hammers the win in the London Derby. 

Arnold made some key saves in the dying minutes of the half to clinch the win and send West Ham into fifth place.

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Moving over to France, Mary Fowler's Montpellier secured a 1-0 win over Bordeaux to maintain fifth spot on the ladder. 

After two goals off the bench in last weekend's action Fowler made the start. Montpellier took the lead when Marion Torrent was bought down in the box, with Lena Patermann slotting away the resulting penalty. 

Meanwhile, Ellie Carpenter's Lyon made it nine wins in a row, with a 4-0 win over Issy FF.

Carpenter picked up an assist on Lyon's first goal, managing to keep the ball in and placing a cross to Melvine Malard to open the scoring. 


Catarina Macario was on the scoresheet just two minutes later. Goals to Signe Bruun and Ada Hegerberg in the second cleaned up the three points. 

Our last stop takes us to Denmark, with the last game of the season providing some interesting showdowns. 

Jenna McCormick made the start for AGF as they took on Aalborg. AGF opened the scoring in the sixth minute through Tina Fremo.

Before Aalborg equliased soon after, both teams would score again to finish the season with a 2-2 all draw.

Clare Wheeler, Angela Beard and Indiah-Paige Riley all started as second-placed Fortuna Hjørring took on third-placed Brøndby IF.

Hjørring clinched second place, with Brøndby unable to catch them, and showed their dominance early scoring just six minutes into the game. 

Olivia Holdt and Emma Snerle were also on the scoresheet to wrap up a 4-1 win for Fortuna Hjørring.