Madison Haley delivered a standout performance, finding the back of the net twice as Brighton overturned a deficit to defeat title‑chasing Manchester City 3-2 in a dramatic Women's Super League encounter. The match began with City asserting early dominance, creating several chances and eventually breaking the deadlock when Kerolin slipped a precise through‑ball to her teammate, who finished confidently to give the visitors the lead. Despite the early advantage, Brighton remained resilient and, against the flow of the game, American forward Haley equalised in first‑half stoppage time, capitalising on a loose ball inside the box and slotting it home to restore parity. The momentum shifted swiftly after the restart.
Kiko Seike, the Japanese midfielder, struck a powerful shot that found the top corner, putting Brighton ahead and igniting the home crowd. Haley, undeterred by the setback, responded almost immediately, delivering her second goal of the night with a well‑timed run into the penalty area and a low finish that left the City goalkeeper stranded. The goal not only reclaimed the lead for Brighton but also underscored Haley's influence on the match.
Manchester City, still in the hunt for their first WSL crown since 2016, fought back valiantly. Khadija Shaw, the prolific Jamaican striker, pulled one back late in the second half, reducing the deficit and setting the stage for a tense finale. However, City could not find the decisive third goal, and Brighton held on to secure a 3-2 victory, handing the defending champions their third league loss of the campaign.
Post‑match, City manager Andree Jeglertz addressed Sky Sports, acknowledging the difficulty of the contest and emphasising the importance of converting chances. "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," he explained.
Jeglertz also highlighted the need for concentration throughout the full 90 minutes, noting that the team dropped percentages at crucial moments and paid the price for those lapses. He remained optimistic, stating, "I'm not worried. Unfortunately you learn a lot in these games and I am fully sure that when we are back in training, we will be focused for Liverpool next week.
We are following the other results and it is still in our hands. We will do everything we can to finish off with two wins." City captain Alex Greenwood echoed a similar sentiment, describing the defeat as unexpected but not insurmountable. "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. Haley, who was named player of the match, reflected on Brighton's performance and the significance of the victory. "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," she told Sky Sports. She also highlighted the progress the team has made over the season, noting that earlier performances had shown promise but had not translated into results.
"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," Haley added.
Looking ahead, Brighton's squad is aware of the challenging fixtures that lie ahead, including crucial matches that could determine their path to a Wembley final. Haley expressed confidence that the experience gained from this victory will serve them well in upcoming high‑stakes games.
"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," she concluded. The result leaves Manchester City still in contention for the title but now requires five points from their final two matches, as third‑placed Arsenal sit with three games in hand. The loss serves as a reminder of the league's competitiveness and the fine margins that separate triumph from disappointment. Both teams will now turn their focus to the next round of fixtures, with City aiming to regroup and Brighton hoping to build on their impressive upset.
For fans seeking highlights, free Women's Super League recap videos are available online, though viewers are advised to use the Chrome browser for the best video playback experience. Additionally, a promotional Super 6 competition offers a chance to win £250,000, with entry available at no cost for interested supporters.