Matildas Abroad Review: Catley returns, Wave start Challenge Cup campaign with a victory

Midweek action saw Steph Catley make her return for Arsenal; while San Diego Wave kicked off their Challenge Cup campaign with a victory over the Portland Thorns. 

Read our review of the midweek action below. 

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England

Kicking off in the WSL, Lydia Williams' Brighton & Hove Albion kept their hopes of remaining in the top flight alive with a 3-2 win over Clare Wheeler's Everton, lifting them off the bottom of the table.

Williams and Wheeler started for their respective sides, with the Seagulls getting on the scoresheet early through Elisabeth Terland. Katie Robinson doubled Brighton's advantage just before the break, taking a 2-0 lead over Everton into the interval.

Lydia Williams (25, Brighton), Zoe Morse (14, Brighton) and Kayleigh Green (15, Brighton) after a game in the Barclays Women s Super League on 19 April 2023, between Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton Women at the Broadfield Stadium, Crawley, UK (Bettina Weissensteiner/SPP)
Lydia Williams (25, Brighton), Zoe Morse (14, Brighton) and Kayleigh Green (15, Brighton) after a game in the Barclays Women's Super League on 19 April 2023, between Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton Women at the Broadfield Stadium, Crawley, UK. (Photo:Bettina Weissensteiner/SPP)

Katja Snoeijs was able to half the deficit for the Toffees before Terland restored Brighton's two-goal advantage with 10 minutes left on the clock. Snoeijs clawed back another but Everton was unable to seal the late draw. 

Next up, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley's Arsenal went down 1-0 to ladder leaders Manchester United, with Catley making her return from injury for the Gunners in the defeat. 

Arsenal was dealt another injury blow in the game, with captain Leah Williamson forced off in just the 15th minute, joining Jonas Eidevall's growing list of injured players. 

Steph Catley during the Barclay Women's Super League match between Manchester United Women and Arsenal Women at Leigh Sports Village. (Photo:Nina Farooqi)
Steph Catley during the Barclays Women's Super League match between Manchester United Women and Arsenal Women at Leigh Sports Village. (Photo: Nina Farooqi)

Alessia Russo gave United the lead in first-half stoppage time, linking up with the former Gunner Nikita Parris for the opener. 

Catley came off the bench to start the second half, making her return from injury for the visitors. However, Arsenal were unable to find the equaliser as the title race heats up.  

USA

Over to the USA, Emily Van Egmond's San Diego Wave FC kicked off their Challenge Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over the Portland Thorns. Both coaches opted to rotate their Starting XI for the fixture, with Van Egmond named to the bench after missing Wave's 1-0 loss to OL Reign over the weekend. 

Thorns looked the likely side to open the scoring, however, a defensive error saw Wave take the lead in the second stanza to start their quest for their first piece of silverware. 


Jaedyn Shaw made an immediate impact off the bench, making a dangerous run into the box and forcing an own goal from Meaghan Nally. Van Egmond came off the bench for Casey Stoney's side to help close out the win. 

Norway

Our last stop takes us to Norway where Tameka Yallop and Larissa Crummer's SK Brann made it back-to-back 0-0 draws with a stalemate against Avaldsnes in the Toppserien.

Crummer played the whole 90 minutes for Brann, while Yallop did not appear in the matchday squad.