Southampton were looking to carry on their impressive run of form and Brighton were aiming to come back stronger after their loss against Arsenal last weekend, however both of them were looking for those three points in hope of making it to the knockouts.
Brighton’s starting XI: Sophie Baggaley, Rosa Kafaji, Michelle Agyemang, Fran Kirby, Dina Noordam, Jorelyn Carabali, Maris Olislagers, Carla Carrillo, Marit Auee, Rachel Mclauchlan and Fuka Tsunoda.
Southampton’s starting XI: Fran Stenson, Milly Mott, Ashanti Akpan, Amy Goddard, Tara Bourne, Michaela McAlonie, Abigail Ferguson, Mary Bashford, Jessica Simpson, Megan Collett and Esta Roberts.
The game started with Agyemang taking the first kick and it did not take long for Brighton to try their chances against fellow their South Coast side.
The first of many corner kicks for Brighton came in the second minute and they must of given Saints quite the scare as another corner was given with Carabaldi’s header being sent just wide of the goal post.
A short four minutes later, the visitors had their first attack but Brighton were quick to shut that down and keep posession of the ball.
This was a half that was mostly dominated by attacks and shots by Brighton as Arsenal loanees Rosa Kafaji and Michelle Agyemang both had attempts on goal only minutes apart.
However credit does need to be given to the Southampton side as they relentlessly worked against their WSL opposition whilst giving them a challenge in the process.
Just before half time another Brighton effort was sent wide as Southampton was hanging onto the clean sheet, Fuka Tsunonda had her effort yet again cleared by the Reds defence.
The defensive battle wasn’t over for Saints just yet as another 4 minutes was added onto the end of the first half.
The Away Side got themselves a corner and they posed quite the threat for the home side as they had to battle to keep the ball out the back of the net.
4 minutes were added onto the first half but neither team was able to produce anything before the half time whistle.
Brighton came out with avengance in the second half, they were gunning for a goal and they were trying everything to find a way around the opposition but Southampton were standing strong.
In the first 15 minutes both Auee and Olislagers had they attempts on goal put wide or tipped over the bar, keeping Saints in the game.
The reds had two back-to-back corners and unfortunately they were unable to put one past Sophia Baggeley and her back four.
In the 58th minute we had our first substitution – Esta Roberts of Southampton came off for Isabel Watts in an attempt to boulster their attacking chances.
A quick four minutes later we had our first Brighton changes.
Carla Carrillo made way for Kiko Seike and Rosa Kafaji for Moeka Minami.
Talk about an instant impact as Kiko Seike, in the 67th minute, after an excellent play for the Seagulls, sent the ball into the top corner.
Brighton, just three minutes later managed to double their lead.
Through none other than footballing veteran, Fran Kirby as she slotted the ball past Fran Stenson to open her scoring account.
The next 10 minutes were fairly quiet with both teams trying to keep posession and counter attack each other for a chance to either add a goal to their lead or get one back.
Two more Brighton changes came in the 81st minute, Olisagers and Mclauchan exited the field for Elliana Martin and Caitlin Hayes.
Brighton and Hove Albion were pushing and pressing for that third goal and were still being shut down countlessly by a tired yet relentless Southampton team.
5 minutes before the full 90 minutes, Eleanor Hack and Sofia Trujillo replaced Jess Simpson and Abigail Ferguson.
Just after those Southampton subs we had our last Brighton change, goalscorer Fran Kirby made way for Emilie Gay.
It was like a repeat of the first half, at the end of the second 45 minutes, an extra four minutes was added and it was anybody’s game to try and get a first or a third goal.
In the 90+3 minute, just 60 seconds short of the full time whistle, Kiko Seike bagged herself another to earn a brace.
It ended 3-0 to Brighton, but Southampton put in a good shift and it was a performance to not be disappointed in as they held a WSL side off for a long while, it only slipped due to tiredness.
Brighton however were strong and pressing from the starting whistle but they were kept quiet until the second half and used the Southampton exhaustion to their advantage.
Southampton will next face Nottingham Forest in the WSL 2 whereas Brighton host Manchester United in the WSL – both of these games will occur on November 2nd after the international break.
