Ellie Carpenter helped Lyon to a dramatic comeback in the first leg of the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals, Amy Sayer scored her first goal of the season in Sweden, and Carpenter, Catley, Foord, and Raso picked up assists.
Read our review of all of the Matildas at Home action below.
UWCL
The first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals took place on the weekend, and both were plentiful with intrigue.
Chelsea became the first team to defeat Barcelona at home in five years, a first-half Erin Cuthbert goal the difference as the English side finished 1-0 winners. Having been knocked out of the FA Cup and facing a fight for the title in the WSL, Emma Hayes’ side have plenty to prove and are halfway towards what would be a dramatic upset.
Sam Kerr remains unavailable for Chelsea for the rest of the season after injuring her knee in January.
Meanwhile, Lyon pulled off an incredible late comeback to hold a slender 3-2 advantage in the tie against PSG. PSG held a two-goal lead early in the second half thanks to a Marie-Antoinette Katoto brace. However, goals to Kadidiatou Diana, Melchie Dumornay and Amel Majri – all after the 80th minute – saw Lyon overhaul the deficit, and take the lead heading into the second leg.
Ellie Carpenter played the full match at right-back for Lyon and picked up an assist for the first goal. Clare Hunt remains unavailable for PSG through injury.
England
The WSL is reaching the business end of the season, and the stakes are getting higher on both sides of the ladder.
Everton picked up a crucial away win against Brighton & Hove Albion, coming away 2-1 victors. Tatiana Pinto equalised for Brighton after Everton took the lead through Karen Holmgaard in the second half. However, a late own goal meant that Everton took the lead, and are now out of danger of relegation.
Clare Wheeler started and played the full match in midfield for the Toffees.
Teagan Micah kept a crucial clean sheet as Liverpool defeated Bristol City 1-0 on Saturday. A goal to Marie Höbinger was enough for the Reds to secure the result against a Bristol that looked more and more destined for relegation – they would need to win all three of their final games in order to have any chance of staying in the WSL next season.
Liverpool meanwhile remains in fifth, equal on points with Manchester United in fourth. It was Micah’s fifth appearance for Liverpool in the WSL, and her first since January.
Manchester United relied on a stoppage-time equaliser from Maya Le Tissier to draw against Tottenham Hotspur, the team who will be their FA Cup final opponents next month. Melvine Malard gave United the lead early before a quickfire double to Bethany England and Jessica Naz put Spurs in front. They would remain that way until the 92nd minute when Le Tissier’s goal rescued a point for United.
It leaves plenty to think about as both teams prepare for the next time they meet when there will be silverware on the line. Charli Grant was an unused substitute for Tottenham.
Arsenal made light work of Leicester City on the weekend, easing past the Foxes 3-0. A brace to Beth Mead on either side of an Alessia Russo goal was enough to reward the Gunners' dominance with three points.
Steph Catley played the full match for Arsenal at centre-back, and assisted Russo’s goal with a brilliant run up the middle, while Caitlin Foord got the assist for Mead’s first before being replaced in the 82nd minute. Kyra Cooney-Cross remains unavailable with a minor knock.
Manchester City kept up their side of the title race bargain with a 5-0 thrashing of West Ham. Leila Ouahabi’s goal in the first minute was a sign of things to come as a Khadija Shaw brace, followed by late goals to Laura Blindkilde and Jess Park, sealed things for City. In a season where goal difference may come into play to decide the champions, it was an incredibly valuable win.
Alanna Kennedy and Mary Fowler both started and played the full match for City, while it was a match to forget for Mackenzie Arnold in goals for the Hammers. Katrina Gorry remains injured for the rest of the season for West Ham.
Sweden
Three first-half goals to their opponents meant that Kristianstads DFF suffered their first home defeat of the season, losing 3-1 to Rosengård. The flurry of goals in the first half – Rosengård scored three goals in the space of four minutes – proved insurmountable, despite a second-half Amy Sayer goal.
Clare Polkinghorne and Sayer both started for Kristianstads.
United States
San Diego Wave were defeated 1-0 by a dominant Orlando Pride on Saturday (AEST). Casey Stoney’s side were unable to overcome a first-half goal from Summer Yates and will have plenty to think about after being overrun for much of the game.
Emily van Egmond started the match in midfield for the Wave and played the full 90, while Kaitlyn Torpey came on at half-time.
France
Paris FC fell to a shock 1-0 loss to Saint-Étienne on the weekend. The away side scored in the fourth minute through Alexandria Lamontagne-Maycock and parked the bus, holding on despite Paris’ 17 shots to 3 and 57% possession. Sarah Hunter was not named in the matchday squad.
Spain
Real Madrid secured a crucial 4-2 victory over Levante. Gabi Nunes scored first for Levante in the fifth minute and held onto the lead until the second half – but when Madrid got the breakthrough, the goals flowed, a brace to substitute Linda Caicedo in between goals to Claudia Zornoza and Maite Oroz. Hayley Raso started on the bench and was introduced in the 67th minute, assisting Caicedo’s second goal.
Denmark
Winonah Heatley’s FC Nordsjælland have gone to the top of the Elitedivisionen, defeating AGF 2-1. Josefine Funch and Anna Christine Walter were on the scoresheet as they came from behind to secure the all-important three points. Heatley started and played the full match.