Mary Fowler strikes again as Mackenzie Arnold left fuming over brutal incident
The Matildas star scored her first Women's Super League goal of the season in Manchester City's 4-1 win over Brighton.
Mary Fowler has taken a late-season starting opportunity with both hands, scoring her first goal of the Women's Super League season to help Manchester City continue their title push in a 4-1 win over Brighton. The 21-year-old Matildas star has spent most of the season out of the starting side for her club team, limited to short cameos off the bench but she has broken into the starting side in recent weeks.
Fowler was influential against Brighton with a goal and an assist as she gets important minutes under he belt ahead of the Olympics. Her performance against the Seagulls not only helped her side to a win but brought them level with Chelsea at the top of the Women's Super League standings.
After player-of-the-match Lauren Hemp put City ahead in the 27th minute, the Aussie struck her third goal of the season - after two previous goals in FA Cup action - five minutes before half-time. City got their third in the 69th minute courtesy of Khadija Shaw - the league's top scorer - before Fowler's pinpoint cut-back from the right flank saw Laura Coombs make it four. Brighton managed to get a stoppage-time consolation, with City running out 4-1 winners and climbing to second on the Women's Super League ladder, behind league leaders Chelsea on goal difference.
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Matildas' coach Tony Gustavsson previously said that he hoped Fowler's sparkling national team form would lead to her getting more minutes for City, and club coach Gareth Taylor has obliged of late, with Fowler playing 90 minutes in the side's win. Following the match Taylor sang the Aussie's praises. "I thought we played some really good stuff. We've spoken about Mary for a long time and about what's she capable of doing, and at the top of the pitch, we've got good options now," said Taylor.
Mackenzie Arnold fumes at referee in defeat to Liverpool
West Ham and Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was left livid after Liverpool's Leanne Kiernan prodded the ball into an empty net for the opening goal. Arnold felt she had been fouled in a collision with Ceri Holland in the lead-up but the goal was given.
Arnold required medical attention following the collision, with her head needing to be bandaged up as the medical staff checked for any potential fractures before clearing her to play on. However, her heroics did little to lift her side to victory with West Ham going on to lose the match 3-1 as they continue to languish in second last on the table, winless in their last six. While Liverpool made it three wins on the bounce and have climbed to fifth.
Matildas involved in awkward kit mishap
Last week Matildas Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross were involved in an awkward kit mishap as Chelsea and Arsenal's WSL match had to be delayed by 30 minutes because of a clash of socks. The trio all play for the Gunners, who arrived at Stamford Bridge with the same colour white socks as the hosts.
Referee Rebecca Welch moved to delay the match until a solution was found, with Arsenal ending up wearing black socks sourced from Chelsea's megastore. The team then had to figure out how to cover the Nike emblem on the socks as Arsenal is sponsored by Adidas, eventually settling on using blue electrical tape to cover it up.
English football legend Ian Wright took to X during the ordeal writing: "Embarrassing this. Ridiculous." It was a few hours to forget for Arsenal who were eventually trounced 3-1 by league leaders Chelsea.
with AAP
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