WSL Saturday Roundup: Arsenal Come From Behind to Beat Spurs as Brighton Thrash West Ham

Brighton beat West Ham 3-0 on Saturday thanks to a wonderful long-range goal from captain Maisie Symonds, earning their second league win of the Women’s Super League season. Earlier in the day, Arsenal came from behind to beat Tottenham 2-1 in the north London derby.

Brighton 3-0 West Ham

Symonds broke the deadlock in the 29th minute in windy, wet conditions on the south coast. She hit a right-footed shot from 10 yards outside the box and it swerved into the top corner. 

Brighton almost doubled their lead straight after the break in messy fashion, when West Ham defender Ines Belloumou, running back, deflected the ball just wide of the post.

The Seagulls then put the game to bed with two goals in three minutes. Fran Kirby slid in the second at the back post, and Kiko Seike chipped a neat finish over keeper Constance Picaud-Inconnu in the 66th minute. 

It was Seike’s fourth goal of the season. Emily Murphy had a late effort ruled out for offside, which would have been her first for the club.

West Ham had no shot on target until added time in the first half. Their best chance fell to in-form striker Viviane Asseyi, but she headed wide after Chiamaka Nnadozie could only push away a long-range effort from Leila Wandeler.

The win lifted Brighton four places to eighth. The Hammers dropped to 12th after their fifth defeat in seven games.

Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal came from behind to win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Alessia Russo’s second-half penalty settling it. Cathinka Tandberg put Spurs ahead in the 13th minute, but Georgia Stanway levelled four minutes later with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. 

The match turned after Spurs defender Alice Sombath went off on a stretcher, and Russo scored from the spot after Ella Morris was penalised for handball.

The win was badly needed for Renee Slegers, whose side had not won in five league games. Arsenal are still sixth, nine points behind leaders Manchester City. 

Tottenham started the day fourth and had conceded 12 goals in their previous two games, so manager Martin Ho will be pleased with how his side stayed in the game, even if it feels like a missed chance.