Brighton and Hove Albion Women vs Arsenal Women. Women's Super League.
Broadfield StadiumAttendance4,786.
Brighton and Hove Albion Women 4
- F Kirby (16th minute)
- J Cankovic (43rd minute, 52nd minute)
- K Seike (54th minute)
Arsenal Women 2
- C Foord (29th minute)
- M Caldentey Oliver (93rd minute)
Brighton Women 4-2 Arsenal Women: Gunners shocked again in the WSL as second place comes under threat
Report and free match highlights as Arsenal are beaten again following a 5-2 defeat to Aston Villa; Fran Kirby, Jelena Cankovic and Kiki Seike were on target for Brighton; Caitlin Foord and Mariona Caldentey scored for the Gunners, who will face Man Utd on Sunday to secure second place
Monday 5 May 2025 19:49, UK
Brighton left Arsenal shocked once again as they ran out 4-2 winners to leave the Gunners with a final-day shootout against Manchester United for second place.
Gunners boss Renee Slegers had been expecting a response from a 5-2 defeat by Aston Villa on Wednesday - which had followed on from their Champions League heroics against Lyon to reach a first European final since 2007 - and made six changes to her side.
Brighton, though, gave their fans a memorable send-off at Broadfield Stadium, with Fran Kirby firing a spectacular opening goal in the 16th minute.
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Although Caitlin Foord soon equalised, Jelena Cankovic struck either side of the break - her second after Arsenal were caught playing out from the back - to put the hosts firmly in control.
Kiko Seike added a fourth just two minutes later following a swift counter to keep fifth-placed Brighton on course for a highest-ever finish in the WSL.
Arsenal scored a late consolation through Mariona Caldentey in stoppage time, with Jenna Nighswonger's effort then pushed onto the crossbar, leaving Slegers' squad to regroup as they aim to make sure of a runners-up spot in their final league match against closest rivals United on May 10.
Slegers: Brighton loss 'definitely a shock'
Arsenal boss Renee Slegers to Sky Sports:
"The last two WSL games, we conceded nine goals, and we just said straightaway that it's really weird and we don't think it's acceptable. We, of course, don't want this to happen and there are different reasons.
"The Villa game was a different game and I think the goals we conceded were different from today - I think we conceded three goals from turnovers of possession. So, we're very aware of it and now we have to learn two very tough lessons, coming off a big success.
"But that's part of being a top team and we have to learn because this can't happen to us. So, we have to find solutions and we want to move forward.
"I think when we go and play this game, this is not what we were expecting and it's not what we are about, so it's definitely a shock. I think they got full reward for the chances they created and the four goals they got. A couple of those finishes were fantastic finishes, but that doesn't take away from everything we need to do. We need to do better.
"It's definitely not what we expected coming here and definitely not what we prepared for. From now on, we need to try and do everything to be better in the next game against Manchester United."
Vidosic hails 'clinical' Brighton
Brighton manager Dario Vidosic to Sky Sports:
"Today to be in front of our fans, a great crowd came out today to see us off, the last time they were here for the season, and to give them that win did feel special.
"We had to be brave, we had to be tough, we had to be resilient together. We had to be all of that to have a chance. And I thought we were fantastic today and the effort was rewarded this time.
"Today we found our moments. We were clinical when we got them and we made it difficult for a world-class team."
Sloppy Gunners risk losing all they've worked for
Analysis from Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:
What has happened to Arsenal? A second heavy defeat in the space of a week, rife with defensive mistakes and general sloppiness, will cast a significant shadow over what has been achieved recently. The Gunners are Champions League finalists. From a standing start, they are also the WSL's second-best side, still a point better off than rivals Man United.
But back-to-back league defeats, shipping nine goals in the process, will be of huge concern to Renee Slegers. In the lead up to Monday's meeting with Brighton, Slegers told her players they needed to 'neutralise emotions' after the highs of beating Lyon to reach a European final was followed by a bruising 5-2 defeat at Aston Villa.
I'm not sure the sentiment sunk in. Defensively Arsenal looked a mess again. Play like that against Barcelona in Lisbon in 19 days' time and their shot at glory will slip away very quickly.
Conceding second place to Man United - who Arsenal face on the final day of the season - would also be a disaster, and mean entering next year's Champions League at an earlier qualifying round. They better shape up, or risk losing everything they have worked so hard for all season.
