90’+5’Full TimeSecond Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 0, Manchester United Women 4.90’+3’Attempt missed. Lucia García (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Katie Zelem.90’+2’Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion Women 0, Manchester United Women 4. Lucia García (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Katie Zelem.
Leah Galton’s double helped Manchester United extend their lead at the top of the Women’s Super League table with a dominant win at Brighton. Galton opened the scoring for the league leaders, heading in Katie Zelem’s corner after 12 minutes to give United an early lead. The forward then added her second in the 66th minute, rounding keeper Lydia Williams before finishing from a tight angle. Subsequently, substitutes Rachel Williams and Lucia Garcia added late goals in the closing stages to seal a 4-0 victory for the Red Devils.
The result saw United go three points clear of second-placed Manchester City having played one game more, while Brighton’s defeat leaves them just two points above the relegation zone. Marc Skinner’s side were clinical throughout, with Galton’s opener her seventh in the league this season and her third in her past three meetings with the Seagulls. The visitors continued to stream forward and were denied a hat-trick for Galton by the feet of Williams, while Ella Toone’s tap-in finish on the rebound was ruled out for offside.
Brighton have not won in the WSL since November and have now gone 19 league matches without a clean sheet. Led by interim manager Amy Merricks after Jens Scheuer left the club last month, the Seagulls are in a precarious position, two points above bottom club Leicester City having played one game fewer. Once United went in front there looked to be only one winner, with Brighton having won only one of their past 26 matches when conceding first.
The hosts had their best opportunity five minutes into the second half but Lee Geum-Min was unable to turn in Jule Olme’s pass. However, it was their leaky defence that cost them – the Seagulls have now conceded 50 goals in the league, 12 more than second-worst side Leicester. The two sides will meet again in a fortnight’s time in their FA Cup semi-final.