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Manchester City Women maintained their flawless start to the Women’s Super League (WSL) season by edging out Brighton 3-2 at home in a gripping encounter at Joie Stadium on Sunday.
The hosts exploded out of the gates, establishing a commanding 3-0 lead within the first 20 minutes. This early dominance was spearheaded by the prolific Bunny Shaw, whose clinical finishing helped set the tone for the match.
Bunny Shaw Powers Man City Goals in 1st Half
The Jamaican forward was instrumental in Manchester City’s first-half surge, opening the scoring in the 5th minute by converting a precise cross from Lauren Hemp on the left flank. Shaw doubled the advantage just 11 minutes later with a powerful header, once again assisted by Hemp, marking her seventh goal of the WSL campaign.
Shortly after Shaw’s brace, Niamh Charles added a third for City with a driven shot from inside the penalty area, registering her first goal since joining the club. This early blitz appeared to put the game out of Brighton’s reach.
However, the visitors responded swiftly before halftime. Olivia Garcia pulled one back in the 31st minute, igniting hope for a Brighton comeback. The pressure intensified when Caitlin Hayes converted a header from a set piece in the 37th minute, narrowing the deficit to 3-2 just before the break.
Brighton continued to press aggressively in the second half, but a resilient City defense, marshaled by goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita, held firm. Shaw came close to completing a hat trick on two occasions, only to be denied by Brighton’s keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
With this hard-fought victory, Manchester City Women extend their lead at the top of the WSL table, boasting a perfect record of 18 points from six games. They now sit two points clear of Chelsea. Meanwhile, Brighton, who were the last team to defeat City at the close of the previous season, fell short in their pursuit of a comeback.
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