Women’s Super League leaders Arsenal ended their current poor type by coming from behind to beat Brighton and go four points clear on the high.
The Gunners dominated however fell behind to an Emma Koivisto header that ended a 465-minute WSL purpose drought for Albion.
But the house facet got here out firing after the break and struck again by Vivianne Miedema’s close-range end from an outstanding Beth Mead free-kick.
Mead then gained the sport, curling in an excellent free-kick after being fouled.
The 26-year-old’s help for the primary purpose means she has now drawn degree with Karen Carney for essentially the most in WSL historical past with 35.
Champions Chelsea in second have a recreation in hand, however the Gunners now maintain an important lead after a mini dip in type that had seen them lose to Birmingham and draw with Manchester City.
Brighton’s defeat means they’ve taken only one level from a doable 18 since a run of three straight wins in October and November, leaving them eighth within the desk.
Arsenal rediscover their chew
That sole level taken by Albion of late may but show a key one on this WSL title race, coming from a goalless draw with Arsenal’s title rivals Chelsea on Sunday.
At the break at Meadow Park on Thursday, it regarded as if they have been going to go one higher towards the Gunners to throw the initiative again to Emma Hayes’ facet.
However, after having dominated possession however fashioning solely a Miedema header from a nook that Maya le Tissier cleared off the road within the first half, Arsenal have been a unique animal after the break.
Mead was central to a renewed attacking vigour, selecting up the ball and driving on the Brighton defence.
She laid the equaliser on a plate for Miedema with a pinpoint free-kick to the again submit that the Dutch striker had solely to poke in for her eighth WSL purpose of the season and fifteenth in whole.
Mead then took on accountability herself, drawing a foul on the sting of the field from Victoria Williams with a purposeful run earlier than curling residence the ensuing set-piece with aplomb.
Once behind, Brighton had little extra to provide, with their second-half gameplan reliant on containing an Arsenal facet that merely had an excessive amount of class for them.
Line-ups
Arsenal Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Zinsberger
- 26Wienroither
- 6WilliamsonSubstituted forWubben-Moyat 65′minutes
- 2Carvalho Souza
- 16Maritz
- 13WältiSubstituted forMaanumat 82′minutes
- 8Nobbs
- 10Little
- 77HeathSubstituted forParrisat 77′minutes
- 11Miedema
- 9Mead
Substitutes
- 3Wubben-Moy
- 12Maanum
- 14Parris
- 20Boye Sørensen
- 28Cull
- 37Head
Brighton Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Walsh
- 6Le TissierBooked at 54mins
- 5Kerkdijk
- 20WilliamsBooked at 60mins
- 17Kullberg
- 21Zigiotti OlmeSubstituted forSimpkinsat 70′minutes
- 8ConnollySubstituted forWhelanat 22′minutes
- 2Koivisto
- 10Kaagman
- 16BrazilBooked at 24mins
- 18CarterSubstituted forGreenat 70′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Gibbons
- 4Bowman
- 7Whelan
- 12Bance
- 15Green
- 19Simpkins
- 24Symonds
- 40Startup
- Referee:
- Kirsty Dowle
- Attendance:
- 1,617
Live Text
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Match ends, Arsenal Women 2, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 1.
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Second Half ends, Arsenal Women 2, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 1.
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Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Kayleigh Green tries a by ball, however Victoria Williams is caught offside.
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Nikita Parris (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick on the correct wing.
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Foul by Emma Kullberg (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).
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Foul by Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal Women).
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Emma Koivisto (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick within the attacking half.
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Attempt saved. Nikita Parris (Arsenal Women) proper footed shot from greater than 40 yards on the correct wing is saved within the centre of the purpose.
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Attempt blocked. Emily Simpkins (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) proper footed shot from outdoors the field is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Frida Maanum (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the left facet of the six yard field is blocked. Assisted by Noëlle Maritz.
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Foul by Laura Wienroither (Arsenal Women).
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Aileen Whelan (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Offside, Arsenal Women. Lotte Wubben-Moy tries a by ball, however Nikita Parris is caught offside.
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Substitution, Arsenal Women. Frida Maanum replaces Lia Wälti due to an harm.
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Attempt saved. Emily Simpkins (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) proper footed shot from outdoors the field is saved within the high centre of the purpose.
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Substitution, Arsenal Women. Nikita Parris replaces Tobin Heath.
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Attempt blocked. Beth Mead (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the centre of the field is blocked. Assisted by Vivianne Miedema with a headed go.
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Attempt missed. Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal Women) proper footed shot from the left facet of the field misses to the left. Assisted by Tobin Heath.
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Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Emily Simpkins replaces Julia Zigiotti Olme.
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Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Kayleigh Green replaces Danielle Carter.