Welcome to Full Time, The Athletic’s women’s football column — a one-stop shop every Monday to discuss the big issues in the game across the UK and Europe.
The main story
Manchester City’s bright start to the WSL season has ground to a halt with back-to-back losses now leaving them six points off league leaders Chelsea.
Having been outdone 2-1 by Arsenal last week, they were stunned by Brighton & Hove Albion at home. Forward Lee Geum-Min’s 81st-minute winner ended her former club’s unbeaten run at the Joie Stadium which stretched back to November 2021.
In their last nine league meetings before Sunday, City had beaten Brighton eight times and drawn once.
It was a familiar story for Gareth Taylor’s side who were dominant for most of the game, having 35 shots (13 on target) and hitting the woodwork twice (Chloe Kelly in the 20th second), but were unable to beat Brighton goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley.
For all of their quality, City lacked the killer instinct that allows the very best teams to find a goal even when they are underperforming.
Kelly was unable to break Brighton’s resistance (Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“We should’ve had many goals, but it just didn’t happen,” said Taylor after the game. But those words have long rung…
