Matildas Abroad Review: PSG Coupe de France Féminine champions; Micah keeps clean sheet for Liverpool

Clare Hunt and Paris Saint-Germain are French Cup champions, with PSG lifting the trophy after a 1-0 victory on the weekend.

Meanwhile, a late Arsenal victory over Manchester City that included a Caitlin Foord assist has opened the door for Chelsea to claim the WSL title.

Read our review of all of the action below.

Matildas Insider Sign Up Thin Banner

England

Everton and Tottenham Hotspur started the weekend with a 2-2 draw on Saturday. Everton rushed to a two-goal lead in the first half, with Clare Wheeler assisting the first, before Spurs dragged it back thanks to goals either side of half-time to Drew Spence and Bethany England. Wheeler started for Everton and played the full match, while Charli Grant entered the pitch in the 65th minute for Spurs.

A second-half goal to Alisha Lehmann gave Aston Villa a 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. It is a result that sends Villa up to seventh, where they will finish the season, while Brighton is in ninth. Charlie Rule has been battling injury and was not named in the matchday squad for Brighton.

Liverpool defeated Manchester United 1-0 and are in the box seat to finish fourth thanks to a goal to Jenna Clark just before the half-time break. Liverpool had the vast majority of chances throughout the game and were good value for their win. Teagan Micah was in goals and kept a valuable clean sheet for Liverpool.

Teagan Micah (16 Liverpool) during the Barclays FA Womens Super League match between Liverpool and Manchester United, ManU at Prenton Park in Birkenhead, England on May 5th 2024. (Sean Chandler / SPP)
Teagan Micah during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Prenton Park in Birkenhead, England on May 5th 2024. (Photo: Sean Chandler / SPP)

Arsenal have dealt a crushing blow to Manchester City’s title hopes, two late goals to Stina Blackstenius condemning City to a 2-1 defeat. City looked on track to keep the WSL title in their own hands when Lauren Hemp scored in the first half but now it is Chelsea who are on track to lift the trophy for the fifth time in a row.

Mary Fowler started and played the full game for City, while Alanna Kennedy was a late second-half substitute. Meanwhile, Kyra Cooney-Cross started in midfield for Arsenal, while Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord came off the bench. Foord picked up the assist for Blackstenius’ equaliser.

Stina Blackstenius celebrates with team-mates after scoring their side s second goal of the game during the Barclays Women s Super League match at the Joie Stadium, Manchester.
Stina Blackstenius celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Barclays Women's Super League match at the Joie Stadium, Manchester. (Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Images via Imago)

West Ham and Leicester City played out a 1-1 draw on Monday morning (AEST). Riko Ueki opened the scoring for the Hammers before Sophie Howard equalised for Leicester. Mackenzie Arnold was in goals for West Ham, while Remy Siemsen and Courtney Nevin were unused substitutes for Leicester.

Chelsea have put the title back in their own hands after an 8-0 victory over Bristol City giving themselves a goal difference lead over City, who are three points in front of them, but with one game less to play. Norwegian international Guro Reiten was responsible for four as they piled on the goals against an already-relegated Bristol. It leads to an intriguing final two weeks of WSL action as Emma Hayes hopes to end her historic stint as Chelsea manager with silverware.

France

PSG have secured the Coupe de France Féminine thanks to a 1-0 victory over Fleury. They went into the match favourites but were unable to find the breakthrough early, and a second yellow card to Thiniba Samoura complicated matters. However, their quality eventually counted, with a 73rd-minute goal to Lieke Martens proving the difference.

Paris Saint Germain's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Women's French Cup (Coupe de France) final football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Fleury 91 at the Mosson Stadium in Montpellier, southern France, on May 4, 2024. (Photo by Sylvain THOMAS / AFP) (Photo by SYLVAIN THOMAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Paris Saint Germain's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Women's French Cup (Coupe de France) final football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Fleury 91 at the Mosson Stadium in Montpellier, southern France, on May 4, 2024. (Photo by Sylvain THOMAS / AFP) (Photo by SYLVAIN THOMAS/AFP via Getty Images)

The result means that Clare Hunt lifted the first silverware in her senior professional career since Canberra United’s premiership all the way back in 2016/17. She was unable to feature in the matchday squad for the final due to injury.

Sweden

BK Häcken have continued their solid start to the Damallsvenskan season, defeating Brommapojkarna 2-0. A second-half brace to Alice Bergström was the difference between the two sides. The result means that Häcken are undefeated after four games, sitting in third place with ten points. Aivi Luik was unavailable for the side due to injury.

Meanwhile, Kristianstads DFF came from behind to defeat Piteå 2-1 to secure their second win of the season. Piteå’s Sara Eriksson scored in the first half before a second-half quickfire double by Tabby Tindell and Katla Tryggvadóttir gave Kristianstads the lead, and the win. Clare Polkinghorne started and played the full match while Amy Sayer was unavailable after the news last week of her ACL injury.

United States

Kaitlyn Torpey earned her first NWSL start on the weekend but unfortunately, it came in defeat, as San Diego Wave fell 2-1 to Seattle Reign. The Wave took the lead in the 11th minute after the Reign were reduced to ten players, thanks to an early red card to Tziarra King.

San Diego Wave FC defender Kaitlyn Torpey (16) passes the ball in front of Seattle Reign FC forward Emeri Adames (47) during the first half at Lumen Field.
San Diego Wave FC's Kaitlyn Torpey passes the ball in front of Seattle Reign FC forward Emeri Adames (47) during the first half at Lumen Field. (Photo: Stephen Brashear/ USA Today Network via Imago)

However, against all odds, the Reign got themselves back into the game – goals to Bethany Balcer and Veronica Latsko gave them the unlikely victory. Torpey played the full match at left-back while Emily van Egmond, who also started for the Wave, was substituted off in second-half stoppage time.

Spain

An early goal to Claudia Zornoza was enough to sneak Real Madrid past city rivals Madrid CFF 1-0 on the weekend. The win theoretically keeps them in contention for the title but the club has already conceded that the trophy is Barcelona’s, with a goal difference of 72 all but impossible to overturn in the remaining four games, while Real have secured a second-place finish. Hayley Raso came off the bench in the 62nd minute.

Denmark

An 89th-minute winner to teenage substitute Emilia Asgeirsdottir saw FC Nordsjaelland secure a vital 1-0 victory over HB Køge. The win means that they remain one point clear on top of the table with four league games to go. Winonah Heatley started and played the full match for Nordsjaelland.