Arsenal ahead Beth Mead began her first sport in precisely a 12 months on Sunday, taking part in simply over an hour within the Gunners’ 3-Zero win over Brighton.
The 28-year-old ruptured her ACL in final season’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester United on the Emirates.
However targets from Stina Blackstenius, Caitlin Foord and Frida Maanum at Crawley’s Broadfield Stadium helped Arsenal slim the hole to WSL leaders Chelsea – who beat Liverpool 5-1 on Saturday – to a few factors.
Blackstenius received the guests going when she swiped at a poor defensive header and missed, earlier than, below little strain, she hooked in on the second time of asking.
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Brighton got here near an equaliser earlier than the break when Elisabeth Terland’s shot was palmed away by Manuela Zinsberger, with the goalkeeper then unconvincingly pushing Julia Zigiotti Olme’s shot across the submit.
Mead was millimetres away from marking her momentous day with a aim shortly earlier than she was withdrawn, however she lifted over after a sq. ball from Blackstenius.
The resistance of the hosts was lastly damaged once more after 80 minutes when Foord obtained the ball in a central spot and rattled residence a cracking second from 25 yards.
Substitute Maanum then made certain of the win within the 95th minute when she caressed residence after Cloe Lacasse had managed Alessia Russo’s cross and unselfishly teed her team-mate up.
Thestrup earns Robins late level at Everton
Amalie Thestrup’s late equaliser earned Bristol Metropolis a 2-2 draw at Everton to maintain them in contact with the Toffees and carry them off the underside of the WSL – for a number of hours at the least.
The hosts flew out of the blocks and took a deserved early lead, when Martina Piemonte struck on the second try after 5 minutes, having seen her first effort stored out by Olivia Clark.
However Everton couldn’t flip their dominance into extra targets, regardless of Piemonte virtually latching onto a free again go from the guests.
As an alternative, Amy Rodgers thumped the Robins stage moments earlier than the break with an excellent first-time effort after a nook was solely half-cleared.
However 12 minutes into the second interval, the hosts restored their lead from a flag kick of their very own when Megan Finnigan reacted quickest to poke residence previous Clark.
Bristol Metropolis had been worthy of their level ultimately although, and secured it eight minutes from time when Thestrup latched onto a protracted ball ahead earlier than dinking over the onrushing Courtney Brosnan and into the empty internet.
