Matildas Abroad Review: Williams makes debut for Brighton; Nevin bags game-winning assist

Our Matildas Abroad were in action around England before the first international break of the year kicked off, with Lydia Williams making her Brighton debut and Nevin picking up a game-winning assist for Leicester.

Read our review below. 

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Kicking off in Manchester, Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso and Alanna Kennedy's Manchester City got bragging rights after they defeated Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord's Arsenal, a rematch of the Conti Cup semi-final last week. 

The home side opened the scoring just four minutes into the game, Chloe Kelly sent a dangerous low cross across the box to meet Lauren Hemp at the far post to put City 1-0 up.


Kelly bagged a goal of her own just before the break to give the home side a 2-0 lead before Rafaelle Souza clawed a goal back for the Gunners.

Arsenal was unable to find the equaliser and faced their second loss of the season and move to fourth. Catley and Foord both made the start for the Gunners, while Raso came off the bench in the 91st minute. 

Meanwhile, Lydia Williams made her debut for Brighton & Hove Albion against Emily Gielnik's Aston Villa.

It was a game to forget for the Seagulls, going down 6-2 to the Villans. The home side opened the scoring just three minutes into the encounter through Julia Zigiotti Olme, after that it was all Villa, netting five goals from four different goalscorers to take a 5-1 lead into the break.

Lydia Williams (25 Brighton) warming up ahead of the Barclays Womens Super League game between Brighton and Aston Villa at Broadfield Stadium, Crawley. (Tom Phillips/SPP)
Lydia Williams warming up ahead of the Barclays Womens Super League game between Brighton and Aston Villa at Broadfield Stadium, Crawley. (Photo: Tom Phillips/SPP)

Danielle Carter scored from the spot for Brighton just after the break, however, Jordan Nobbs completed her hat-trick to restore the four-goal buffer and make it 6-2. 

Lastly, Remy Siemsen and Courtney Nevin's Leicester City collected their second win of the season, defeating Liverpool 1-0.

The Foxes took just eight minutes to find the opener, Nevin picked up the game-winning assist, her first for her new club, setting up Hannah Cain. 

Hannah Cain of Leicester City celebrates with Ruby Mace, CJ Bott, Sophie Howard and Demi Vance after scoring their side's first goal during the FA Women's Super League match between Liverpool and Leicester City at Prenton Park on February 12, 2023 in Birkenhead, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Hannah Cain of Leicester City celebrates with Ruby Mace, CJ Bott, Sophie Howard, Courtney Nevin and Demi Vance after scoring their side's first goal during the FA Women's Super League match between Liverpool and Leicester City at Prenton Park on February 12, 2023, in Birkenhead, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)

Nevin whipped in a low corner, that found Cain unmarked at the top of the box to give the away side the lead. 

The defender played the whole game for Leicester, while Siemsen is yet to make an appearance in the matchday squad.