In a thrilling encounter at the King Power Stadium, Brighton and Hove Albion secured a dramatic victory against Leicester City in the Women’s Super League. The Seagulls demonstrated remarkable focus, clinching the win with a late goal from striker Elisabeth Terland, just 60 seconds after Leicester’s equalizer, ending the match 3-2 to the visitors. Report by Samuel Skedge
The back-and-forth game was very unpredictable, with both teams failing to break the deadlock in the first half. However, in the second half Jutta Rantala found the opener with a goal. Albion found a response with a Madison Haley finish and then a quick double with Katie Robinson finding the net. Late in the second half, the Foxes number 9 Len Pattermann was on the scoresheet, but that goal was quickly dismissed as Terland found the winner a minute later.
As the game began, Leicester had most the possession, but the Seagulls had the first chance. A ball bobbled across the box and found an open Veatriki Sarri at the back post, who had a clear chance to open the scoring but lofted the ball over the net. In response to this Jutta Rantala used her quick feet to curl a left-footed shot but was met with a great palm save from the Brighton keeper.
Capitalizing on defensive errors, Brighton launched a swift counterattack from the halfway line, with Pinto driving forward and setting up Sarri whose shot was ultimately saved. Brighton had a dangerous free kick just outside the box, where Vicky Losada sharpy fired a low driven shot under the wall but Lize Kop once again delivered a great save.
Once again Brighton had a free kick but was further out, that didn’t stop Carabali as her powerful effort was tipped over the bar. As the first half ended it remained as a 0-0 deadlock. However, despite the score the game was thrilling from both ends.
Eventually, in the 54th minute, the Foxes took the lead, as Momiki portrayed amazing vision to pick out a through ball to the incoming Rantala, who rifled the ball into the roof of the net. Brighton found a response after a scrappy corner that deflected off the goalkeeper and rebounded off the substitute Madison Haley who fortunately found the goal to equalize in the 62nd minute.
Albion kept up the pressure and found a lively second in the 68th minute. The striker Katie Robinson used her extreme pace to beat and round the keeper, which allowed her to have an easy tap into an empty net. Leicester City seemed to have salvaged a point with Lena Petermann’s goal in the 84th minute, but Albion’s Terland dashed their hopes with a volley just a minute later, securing all three points for Brighton with her 12th goal of the season.
With this hard-fought victory, Brighton and Hove Albion climbed to 8th place in the Women’s Super League standings. They next play West Ham at home in the league.
