Man City Women 3-2 Brighton: Shaw double enough as leaders survive fightback

Manchester City preserved their perfect Women’s Super League start with a 3-2 victory over Brighton, but a three-goal lead inside 17 minutes became a much tighter contest than the champions would have wanted.

Khadija Shaw scored twice before Niamh Charles added the third at the Joie Stadium on Sunday. Olivia Garcia and Caitlin Hayes brought Brighton back within one before half-time, leaving City to protect a narrow advantage throughout the second half.

The victory gives Andrée Jeglertz’s side six wins from six and restores their two-point lead over Chelsea, who had earlier beaten Tottenham 6-2 at Stamford Bridge. City have 18 points, with Chelsea on 16.

Man City Women 3-2 Brighton: Hemp and Shaw strike early

Lauren Hemp supplied both of Shaw’s goals. The striker converted her cross from close range after five minutes, then headed home another delivery in the 16th.

Charles scored a minute later, putting City in a position to make this a comfortable afternoon.

Yet the defensive questions surrounding City’s unbeaten start soon resurfaced. They had entered the match with one clean sheet from five league games, and Brighton found a way back before the interval.

Garcia bundled the ball over the line after Fran Kirby helped create the opening, then forced Ayaka Yamashita to tip another effort behind. Hayes headed in from the resulting corner, completing a six-minute fightback described in City’s match commentary.

City hold their advantage

Kirby went close after the break, while substitute Mary Fowler had opportunities at the other end. Chiamaka Nnadozie also denied Shaw as City sought a fourth goal.

Neither side scored again. Brighton’s recovery fell just short, while City kept their winning sequence intact.

Perfect results, room for improvement

For City, the points provide the clearest answer to Chelsea’s emphatic win. Their closest challengers increased the pressure earlier in the afternoon; the leaders finished it with the same two-point cushion.

City’s attack established a commanding lead, but Brighton’s response ensured the result remained in doubt far longer than the opening exchanges suggested.

Shaw and Hemp’s partnership ultimately supplied enough. Six games into the campaign, nobody has yet taken a league point from the champions.