DURING this week the newly named FA Women’s League Cup, previously, The Continental Cup started for the new season .
The first group games have been and gone with the tables starting to take place, with each first place team progressing to the knockouts after their three group games and the two best performing second place teams also progressing.
Manchester United are the top of Group A after beating Liverpool 2-0, goals from Melvine Malard and Rachel Williams meant that the Red Devils took all three points back to Manchester with them.
Everton and Newcastle sit in the middle of the table after their game ended in a 1-1 draw with Everton taking the additional point from the penalty shootout. Newcastle failed to convert any of their spot kicks, easily handing the point over to Everton.
In Group B, all filled with Women’s Championship teams, Durham sit in first after beating Blackburn Rovers 2-1. Durham looked to be losing until the team put a shift in and goals from Kaila Lillyanna Novak and Eleanor Ryan-Doyle in the last ten minutes meant Blackburn Rovers went home disappointed.
Second in the group is Sunderland who beat Sheffield United again 2-1. Sunderland scored early as Katy Watson found a breakthrough in the second minute. Sheffield United equalised in the 51st minute and then Sunderland put the game to bed and scored in the 77th minute to take all three points.
For Group C, again there was two wins from two games, West Ham beat South Coast Side, Portsmouth, with their only goal coming from a Megan Hornby penalty. the West London side took all three points winning 6-1.
Another London team took on a South coast team, with London City Lionesses taking on Southampton. The game was an even playing field and looked to go to a penalty shootout until Maddi Wilde took all three points for London City in the 85th minute.
Group D is where it gets a little bit more interesting, Brighton and Hove Albion sit on top as they took on Birmingham City where they beat the midlands team 3-0. New summer signing, Fran Kirby opened her League Cup account for Brighton as she scored in the 86th minute to seal the win.
Bristol City sit in second which is all thanks to Lexi Lloyd-Smith who equalised for Bristol in the 80th minute. The Robins then went on to steal another point off Leicester City as they won 2-1 in the penalty shootout.
In the fifth and final group, Aston Villa are on top and looking to progress in the knockouts after goals from Kirsty Hanson and Katie Robinson in the last 12 minutes stole all three points from Crystal Palace who couldn’t find a reply as the game ended 2-0.
Tottenham Hotspur went up against London rivals Charlton Athletic for their fight to proceed to the knockouts. The game was looking to go to a penalty shootout to fight for the extra point but it was youngster Jessica Naz scored for Spurs in yet again the 86th minute.
Three of the Women’s Super League ‘bigger’ Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City will join the competition in the Quarter-Finals as they are all competing in the UEFA Women’s Champions’ League group stages.
