Alexia Putellas marked her debut in English football with a decisive goal, steering the London City Lionesses to a 2-0 triumph over Brighton and lifting them into second place on the Women's Super League ladder. The Spanish midfield star, the headline signing of the summer, capitalised on a rebound after Chiamaka Nnadozie initially saved Kadidiatou Diani's effort.
From the ensuing scramble, Putellas curled a half‑volley around a defender and tucked the ball past a goalkeeper still regaining her footing. The opening half had been sparse in clear‑cut chances, and Putellas' strike represented the first genuine opportunity of the match. Brighton responded almost immediately, with Emily Murphy rising to meet a cross and sending a powerful header that struck the crossbar.
Shortly thereafter, Keiko Seike, who had been solid in defense, found herself with a loose ball inside the box but was unable to convert, her shot going wide of the target. Later in the game, Lucia Corrales sealed the win with a composed finish following a swift team move.
The sequence began when Danielle van de Donk dispossessed Fran Kirby, releasing Delphine Cascarino. Cascarino then threaded a precise pass to Corrales, who had made a penetrating run down the left flank.
Corrales received the ball in stride and fired it home, extending the lead and confirming the Lionesses' dominance. The victory marked London City's third win of the campaign, catapulting them above both Chelsea and Tottenham into the coveted second spot with several fixtures still to play. Brighton, meanwhile, remain winless in the league, sitting in 10th place and still yearning for their first WSL points.
After the match, captain Alexia Putellas reflected on her goal: "It was a mix of a little bit of training and instinct inside the box. The most important thing is helping the team… I'm very proud of all the players. It's a new challenge for everyone in the WSL because we want to build something special here.
We're on our way, we have to keep pushing, keep working, keep being together and see how the season unfolds." She also commented on the second goal: "We try to be unpredictable. We can score from possession or on the counter‑attack.
We have players for both styles, so our main aim is to keep the opposition guessing, and we achieved that today." Head coach Eder Maestre praised his captain's influence: "It's a relief because she's doing amazing. She's trying to lead the team through the captaincy.
I'm so glad to see her scoring again, but it's not just about the goal; it's about everything she brings to the squad in terms of quality and leadership." Key moments of the match were captured in the broadcast timeline: at the 29th minute, Putellas netted her first English‑league goal with a volley off a rebound; at 35 minutes, Brighton came close when Murphy's header hit the bar; at 54 minutes, Putellas nearly added a second, her header from Mapi Leon's free‑kick rattling the woodwork; at 72 minutes, Seike's effort was well saved by Elene Lete; and in stoppage time (90+2), Corrales completed the scoring after a well‑executed team break. Maestre added context to the performance: "We knew the game would be tough. Brighton are a very good side, difficult to keep the ball from because of their fluid midfield. I'm very proud of the team because it’s not just about the win, but how we won.
We respected our identity, dominated most of the game, and had plenty of chances to be even more aggressive. We felt comfortable throughout, and that comfort translated into a solid performance." Regarding the club's ambition, Maestre explained: "Our target is clear.
We maintain an underdog mentality—humble yet ambitious. In this project we aim to reach that target, push limits, and give our players the best environment to succeed.
It may be temporary, but we dream big and hope to stay in this position until the final whistle of the competition." Brighton's head coach Arturo Ruiz offered his perspective: "Against a strong opponent like today’s Lionesses, we played a long game because they didn’t create many clear‑cut chances, yet we felt comfortable and superior at several moments. However, we need to be more confident in the moments when we feel good and capitalize on them. We generated several scoring opportunities, but we must read the momentum of both teams better. Our substitutions were intended to be very attacking, and we need to generate that confidence.
Our rivals were wary of losing, not comfortable with a 1‑0 lead, and after a difficult first half we must feel the momentum and seize the chances." The match also highlighted the growing competitiveness of the WSL, with teams like London City Lionesses demonstrating that strategic signings and cohesive teamwork can quickly alter the league hierarchy. Putellas' adaptation to English football appears seamless, and her leadership on and off the pitch is already influencing the squad’s mentality.
As the season progresses, the Lionesses will look to consolidate their position near the top, while Brighton will strive to break their winless streak and climb out of the lower reaches of the table. Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the league, and a promotional note reminded viewers: "Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m!
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