BRIGHTON WOMEN 0
LIVERPOOL WOMEN 3: Olsson 4’, 79’, Kapocs 48’
Liverpool won their first league game since the end of September on Saturday afternoon. They traveled to Brighton in 10th place and came back in eighth after keeping a clean sheet and grabbing a decisive three point victory.
It didn’t take long for the Reds to strike. After only four minutes, Vivien Endemann found herself granted acres of space on the right side. She raced up the wing and picked out Beata Olsson making her run into the box.
Olsson only had to toe it home past the keeper.
A few minutes later, Liverpool try another quick break, but Cornelia Kapocs can’t quite maintain control the ball and the chance is wasted.
That is pretty much a microcosm of the game. Liverpool pressed high and kept Brighton contained. They stretched wide, making good use of their wingers and cutting in from the flanks.
Endemann nearly makes it two in just that way, racing up the right side on a break. However, instead of playing in a teammate, she takes the shot herself at a difficult angle and forces the Brighton keeper into a comfortable save.
Liverpool perhaps get away with one in the box. Samantha Kerr throws herself into a risky tackle on Brighton’s Olaug Tvedten. She gets the ball but also ends up in a tangle with the player. The referee doesn’t even hesitate before letting them play on. That was lucky for the Reds.
The second half began with another gift, this time from the Brighton captain. Maisie Symonds, in her own box and under almost no pressure, sends a blind pass across her own goal straight to the loving embrace of Kapocs. It’s a first time touch into an open goal, and Liverpool have their second.
Brighton gets their best chance minutes later when Garcia plays in Joramo. Thankfully the shot from center is too high and lands in the stands.
The Reds dusted off the match in the 78th minute. Fuka Nagano finds another good run from Olsson. Olsson cuts in from the right. Her first shot with her right foot is blocked, but she recovers, snags the rebound, goes around a defender, and sends it safely through with her left.
In the end, it’s a good three goals and three points to the good for Liverpool. Despite doing well so far in the League Cup, they’d been flagging in the league. It’s nice to see another good victory to buoy them into the winter period. That’s five goals in 10 league games for Beata Olsson, who is having quite the season.
