Madison Haley delivered a standout performance, finding the back of the net twice as Brighton rallied from an early deficit to upset title‑contending Manchester City 3-2 in a thrilling Women's Super League encounter. The match began with City asserting control, creating several early chances and taking the lead through a well‑timed through ball that was converted by Kerolin.
Despite City’s dominance, the game’s rhythm shifted dramatically in first‑half stoppage time when American forward Haley equalised, catching the visitors off guard and injecting fresh momentum into the Brighton side. Following the restart, Brighton seized the initiative.
Kiko Seike, displaying composure and clinical finishing, put the hosts ahead, capitalising on a defensive lapse from City. The goal restored Brighton’s confidence and set the tone for the remainder of the half. As the second half unfolded, Haley struck again, her second goal cementing Brighton’s lead and showcasing her versatility and poise inside the box.
The goal came after a swift counter‑attack, with Haley timing her run perfectly to meet a low cross and slot the ball past the City goalkeeper. Manchester City, however, were not ready to concede defeat. Their star striker Khadija Shaw managed to pull one back late in the game, narrowing the margin and setting the stage for a dramatic finish. Shaw’s goal sparked a brief surge of hope among the City supporters, but Brighton’s defensive organisation held firm, and the match concluded with a 3-2 victory for the Seagulls.
The loss marked City’s third league defeat of the campaign, a setback in their pursuit of the WSL title. Andree Jeglertz, the manager of Manchester City, had entered the match with ambitions of narrowing the gap to the league leaders and securing the club’s first Women's Super League crown since 2016.
Yet, with this defeat, City now require five points from their remaining two fixtures to keep title hopes alive, while third‑placed Arsenal sit three games ahead, possessing a crucial points advantage. In the post‑match interview with Sky Sports, Jeglertz reflected on the performance: "It was a tough game but it is about scoring goals. We created a lot of chances in the first half and we needed to score.
On the other hand, we need to protect our penalty box a little better. It's important we learn from this game. I told the players it is so important that during the 90 minutes, we are really focused in all situations. Today we dropped a couple of percentages in some moments and we were punished." He added that the team would regroup and focus on the upcoming clash with Liverpool, emphasizing the need to stay disciplined and finish the season strongly.
City captain Alex Greenwood echoed a similar sentiment, acknowledging that the result was not part of their plan. "It wasn't part of the plan.
This is a really good side - we knew it was going to be a tough game here. The first half we had the better chances for sure and we probably should have been further ahead than we were. We let them back into the game just before half‑time which was quite disappointing and then we missed the small details in the second half and let the game get away from us.
While it is still in our hands, we need to stay really positive and look forward to next week. Two cup finals, two wins, that's the mentality moving forward," she said. For Brighton, the victory was a testament to their resilience and tactical execution.
Player of the match Madison Haley spoke to Sky Sports about the team's approach: "For us it was more about tightening up. We knew what the game plan was, we were just not executing it in the first half, but we had moments. Getting the goal right before half‑time was important for us, but it was more building on the things that were breaking down in the first half in the second. Credit to the girls working hard.
They put pressure on us in the final minutes but we stayed together and got three points. At the beginning of this year the performances were there but unfortunately we weren't getting the results.
We knew if we kept playing and doing the right things the result would come good. We are seeing the fruits of our labour now. We have some really big games coming up, some really hard games, but we are looking to get to Wembley and all of these games are preparations for us to try to get into that final." The win not only provided Brighton with three valuable points but also sent a clear message to the league’s elite: the gap between the traditional powerhouses and the emerging challengers is narrowing. Brighton’s tactical discipline, combined with Haley’s clinical finishing, demonstrated that with the right mindset and execution, any team can compete at the highest level.
Looking ahead, Manchester City must regroup quickly. With only two matches remaining, every point will be crucial. The upcoming fixtures against Liverpool and a final game that could determine their fate will test the squad’s character and resolve. Meanwhile, Brighton will aim to build on this momentum, targeting a strong finish to the season and potentially securing a spot in European competition.
Both teams have expressed optimism about their futures. City’s management emphasised the importance of learning from setbacks and maintaining focus, while Brighton celebrated the fruits of their hard work and looked forward to further success, including aspirations of reaching a cup final at Wembley. The broader narrative of the Women's Super League continues to evolve, with thrilling matches, surprise results, and a growing competitive balance that promises an exciting conclusion to the season.