Matildas Abroad Review: Riley on the scoresheet for Hjørring; Arsenal undefeated at the top of the table

There was a mixed bag of results for our Matildas Abroad who continued their domestic football before the international break, Riley was on the scoresheet for Hjørring; while Kerr helped Chelsea to a 2-0 win.

One Aussie found the back of the net over a jam-packed weekend and Arsenal and FC Rosengård remain at the top of the table across their respective leagues. 

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In Manchester, City was looking to bounce back after three WSL losses in a row when they took on rivals Manchester United.

City, still with injury woes, had a difficult game against United, with Georgia Stanway's straight red card just before the halftime break leaving City with 10. 

Khadija Shaw opened the scoring to give City the advantage at halftime. United quickly found the equaliser and their second in a matter of minutes, with Lucy Staniforth and Alessia Russo scoring for United. 

Ellen White found her first of the WSL season, equalising for City to make the score 2-2. City collected their first point since the opening weekend of the season, sitting on four points.

Alanna Kennedy was an unused substitute, while Hayley Raso remains injured but has begun training again with City. 

Fran Kirby of Chelsea celebrates with teammates Sam Kerr and Pernille Harder after scoring their side's second goal. (Photo: GettyImages)
Fran Kirby of Chelsea celebrates with teammates Sam Kerr and Pernille Harder after scoring their side's second goal. (Photo: GettyImages)

Chelsea made seven changes from their midweek UWCL action, with Emma Hayes resting her deadly combo of Sam Kerr and Pernille Harder. Hayes' side welcomed newly-promoted Leicester City and went into the game having won 16 out of 17 games against sides newly promoted to the WSL. 

The home side had plenty of chances to breach the Foxe's hull in the first half, with Leicester keeper Kirstie Levell increasingly busy in the visitors' goal. 

Harder and Kerr entered the game for the second half and began to look dangerous, a corner found the head of captain Magda Eriksson whose effort was cleared off the line. 

Kerr was the next to have her shot just cleared, rising for a cross from Fran Kirby and keeper Levell somehow making the save.

The 80-minute mark pushed on with no winner in sight, however, Harder was able to replicate her midweek heroics in the UWCL and found the opener for the home side. 

A long kick from Swedish keeper Zećira Mušović found the head of Kerr, who nodded the ball onto an on-running Kirby to slot Chelsea's second home. Coach Emma Hayes collected her 100th win in the WSL with the 2-0 win. 

Kyah Simon was back in the matchday squad for Spurs after missing their last three games. Simon did not make an appearance off the bench as Spurs unbeaten run came to an end, with Brighton beating a 10 player Spurs 2-1. 

Aston Villa was looking to bounce back after a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend when they travelled to take on last-placed Reading. The hosts would walk away 3-0 winners with Emily Gielnik still out through injury. 

After last weekend's stunning win over Manchester City, West Ham welcomed Birmingham City with Mackenzie Arnold and Tameka Yallop starting for the Hammers. 

Claudia Walker opened the scoring for the hosts early in the second half, with a shot from outside the box curling into the corner against her former club. Louise Quinn quickly equalised for Birmingham, with a cluster in the box bundled over the line by Quinn. 

Despite their best efforts, the Hammers would have to settle for the 1-1 draw. 

West Ham United and Birmingham City players link in arms before the game. (Photo: GettyImages)
West Ham United and Birmingham City players link in arms before the game. (Photo: GettyImages)

Our final WSL game of the week saw undefeated Arsenal take on Everton, the Gunners looked to make it five wins in a row. 

Katie McCabe opened the scoring at the half-hour mark in spectacular fashion, with two wonder strikes from outside the box in two weeks. 

Lotte Wubben-Moy found Arsenal's second at the stroke of half-time, Caitlin Foord came on in the 76th minute to replace Vivianne Miedema. 

Norwegian Frida Maanum sealed all three points for Arsenal with the third of the afternoon. Steph Catley and Lydia Williams were unused substitutes in the win. 

Moving over to Sweden, Teagan Micah and Charli Grant both started for FC Rosengård in their game against Linköping. After their first loss of the season last weekend, Rosengård was looking to get things underway quickly, however, the visitors had other plans in mind, opening the scoring nine minutes into the game. 

Rosengård responded at the 30-minute mark through Olivia Schough and doubled their advantage just before half-time to finish the game 2-1. 

Micah played out the entire game in goals, while Grant played 88 minutes. 

Dylan Holmes' BK Häcken were looking to go to the top of the table, after defeating Rosengård last weekend, when they take on Clare Polkinghorne's Vittsjö GIK.

Holmes and Polkinghorne both started for their respective clubs, with Holmes playing the first half and Polkinghorne playing the entire game. 

Polkinghorne's side clinched a 0-0 draw with a strong Häcken side to keep their chances of finding the third UWCL spot for next season alive. 

In Denmark, Jenna McCormick's AGF took on a plethora of Aussies when they welcomed Fortuna Hjørring. Angela Beard and Indiah-Paige Riley made the start for the visitors, with Riley opening the scoring for Hjørring with a strike from just inside the box. 

Hjørring doubled the advantage just minutes later through Olivia Holdt. The visitors had the chance to seal all three points just before the break when Emma Snerle was bought down in the box, the resulting penalty kick was cleared off the line by AGF.  

Clare Wheeler entered the game for Hjørring, and they quickly found their third to secure all three points.

Alex Huynh came on late in the game to seal the win, while Beard and McCormick played the full game.


Over in the Netherlands, Amy Harrison made her first start for PSV this season, playing the first hour for her side. Striker Desiree van Lunteren opened the scoring just three minutes in, the visitors responded deep into first-half stoppage time to tie the game up. 

Another goal to van Lunteren and one a piece for Maruschka Waldus and Naomi Margaretha Pattiwael sealed a 4-1 win for PSV. 

Our final destination takes us to Japan, with Alex Chidiac's  JEF United taking on third-place MyNavi Sendai. Goals to Miyu Yakata and Natsuki Kishikawa in the first half saw both sides walk away with a point. 

Chidiac came on in the 79th minute to help her side secure a point away from home.