Man City Women Rally Past Brighton Thanks to Shaw and Hasegawa

Manchester City Women’s player ratings told a dramatic story as the Cityzens overcame Brighton 2-1 in a night that saw Khadija Shaw and Yui Hasegawa take the spotlight, while Vivianne Miedema struggled to find her usual form. The Women’s Super League clash at Joie Stadium delivered all the tension and excitement fans could want, with resilience and late quality proving crucial for Manchester City Women’s first WSL victory of the new season.

Manchester City Women’s Player Ratings: A Night of Surprises

Manchester City Women’s player ratings reflected a match that began with frustration and ended in elation. Despite City’s status as heavy favorites and Miedema’s reputation as the league’s all-time top goal-scorer, Friday night was marked by missed opportunities. Miedema, who is typically clinical in front of goal, was unusually wasteful, failing to convert several clear-cut chances.

Brighton capitalized on City’s early profligacy. Fran Kirby pounced on a loose ball following Michelle Agyemang’s shot, which Khiara Keating initially saved, to put the visitors ahead. The Seagulls pressed well, meriting their halftime lead as City struggled for rhythm and precision.

Khadija Shaw and Yui Hasegawa Lead the Comeback

The second half saw a renewed sense of urgency from Manchester City Women. With the clock ticking past the hour mark, Khadija Shaw—so often City’s reliable goal-scorer—rose highest to head home the equalizer, finally breaking Brighton’s resistance and lifting the home crowd.

Manager Andree Jeglertz turned to his bench for inspiration, introducing Kerolin and Aoba Fujino. Their impact was immediate, combining brilliantly before Fujino’s clever pass found Yui Hasegawa. The Japanese international showed composure and class to finish confidently, scoring the decisive goal that gave City a deserved lead.

Defensive Solidity and Midfield Grit

While the headlines will rightfully go to Shaw and Hasegawa, City’s defensive backbone was essential. Khiara Keating made several important saves to keep the deficit manageable, while defenders like Alex Greenwood and Laia Aleixandri marshaled the backline effectively under Brighton’s pressure.

In midfield, Laura Coombs and Filippa Angeldahl ensured City maintained control in the latter stages, keeping Brighton at bay and recycling possession intelligently.

Brighton Push City to Their Limits

Manchester City Women’s player ratings also owed much to Brighton’s spirited display. Fran Kirby was a constant threat, and Agyemang’s energy caused problems for City throughout. The Seagulls pressed high and defended doggedly, forcing City into mistakes and making them earn every chance.

Despite their defeat, Brighton can take positives from pushing one of the title contenders so close on their own turf.

Miedema’s Off Night: Cause for Concern?

Vivianne Miedema’s rare off night in front of goal will be a talking point. On another day, she could have had a hat-trick, but nothing seemed to fall right for her. However, her movement and link-up play still created space for teammates, and her quality is never in doubt. City fans will hope this was just a blip for their star striker.

Impact of the Win on City’s WSL Campaign

This hard-fought victory gives Manchester City Women a critical early-season boost in the WSL. Overcoming adversity and showing depth from the bench shows why City are considered serious title contenders. The ability to win even when not at their best will serve them well as the campaign continues.

For Brighton, this performance demonstrates significant progress and offers hope for a strong season ahead.

Opinion: City’s Depth Makes the Difference

What stood out most from Manchester City Women’s player ratings against Brighton was the depth and adaptability of Jeglertz’s squad. While Miedema’s finishing may have deserted her, the emergence of Shaw and Hasegawa as match-winners underlined City’s wealth of attacking options. The tactical tweaks and substitutions, particularly the introduction of Kerolin and Fujino, transformed the match and showed City’s bench can be just as influential as their starting XI.

As the season unfolds, this mix of star power and squad depth could be the key to City’s WSL title ambitions. The resilience shown against a determined Brighton side bodes well for tougher challenges ahead. For more news on the Women’s Super League and Manchester City Women’s progress, visit for more news.