Manchester United and West Ham were among the winners in the opening week of Women’s League Cup group stage action.
United beat rivals Liverpool while the Hammers hit Championship side Portsmouth for six in an action-packed round of fixtures.
Here’s a group-by-group rundown…
GROUP A
Manchester United scored a goal in both halves to secure a 2-0 victory over Liverpool and walk away with three points.
Melvine Malard found the net in the ninth minute on her first start of the new season before Rachel Williams doubled the advantage after the interval.
A special moment ❤️#MUWomen pic.twitter.com/B2U4dPEULo
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) October 3, 2024
It was a more tense affair as Newcastle United and Everton locked horns in a match of fine margins which eventually ended 1-1 after United failed to nab an extra point in the penalty shoot-out.
Demi Stokes’ first goal for Newcastle was cancelled out by a second-half Emma Bissell strike which proved decisive as neither team could find the net again before the full-time whistle.
Courtney Brosnan produced a keeping masterclass in the shootout, saving three penalties to see Everton walk away with two points after winning the shoot-out 3-0.
⛔️⛔️⛔️ @court_brosnan18 pic.twitter.com/15McoDcCAr
— Everton Women (@EvertonWomen) October 2, 2024
GROUP B
Durham mounted a late comeback to begin their cup campaign with a 2-1 victory at Blackburn Rovers.
Grace Riglar’s 17th-minute opener looked to be carrying Rovers towards a winning start but goals in the final 10 minutes from Kaila Novak and Eleanor Ryan-Doyle eventually sealed The Blues’ victory.
Full time. Huge effort from the team today, we go again next time 👊
🌹 #RoversWFC 1-2 #Durham 🐯#ROVvDUR | #Rovers 🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/8Y3do2TrgU
— Blackburn Rovers WFC (@RoversWFC) October 2, 2024
Ryan-Doyle had fired wide early in the second half but a deserved leveller came ten minutes from time as Novak cut in from the right to unleash a rocket effort off the underside of the bar.
Ryan-Doyle then kept her cool to slot home the winner in the 87th minute.
GROUP C
West Ham made a statement with with a convincing 6-1 victory over Portsmouth, with four different players getting their names on the scorecard at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Seraina Piubel put the Hammers ahead on 13 minutes only for Megan Hornby’s penalty to level matters.
Image credit: Richard Pelham / Getty Images
Doubles from Emma Harries and Viviane Asseyi took the game away from Pompey and substitute Riko Ueki rounded off a huge win with a stoppage-time header.
GROUP D
Leicester City played out an entertaining 1-1 tussle with Bristol City, who took the extra point after a nerve-shredding penalty shootout.
Leicester took the lead through Shana Chossenotte before Lexi Lloyd-Smith equalised with 10 minutes to play to send the clash to spot-kicks.
Abi Harrison and Jesse Woolley who buried their attempts from 12 yards as Bristol City emerged victorious.
Brighton enjoyed a triumphant League Cup opener at Knighthead Park but were forced to be patient in their 3-0 win at Birmingham.
Image credit: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
The Seagulls only put an end to the stalemate with 19 minutes left on the clock as substitute Marisa Olislagers curled in a dangerous corner that was met by the head of captain Guro Bergsvand.
Three minutes later, their lead was doubled by a free-kick from Maisie Symonds, who found the net from 20 yards out, before seven-time WSL winner Fran Kirby sealed the victory.
GROUP E
Tottenham battled hard to defeat hosts Charlton 2-1 in a nervy encounter at The Valley.
Spurs initially took the lead after seven minutes as Swiss centre-back Luana Buhler scored her first goal for the club with a free header at the back post.
Their lead was cancelled out in the dying moments of the first half when Ellie Brazil provided the perfect assist for Katie Bradley to equalise.
Image credit: Steve Bardens / Getty Images
It was a late goal from Tottenham’s Jessica Naz, who latched onto a Drew Spence through-ball, that eventually proved the decider in a match that looked like it was heading for penalties.
Aston Villa produced a clinical performance to overcome Crystal Palace 2-0 in their League Cup opener at the Bescot Stadium.
Late goals from Kirsty Hanson and Katie Robinson sealed the three points to send Villa to the top of Group E after head coach Robert de Pauw made nine changes to the starting lineup.
