Alexia Putellas’ first goal in English football and London City Lionesses colours in the first-half, and Lucía Corrales strike in added time of the second, earned Eder Maestre’s side the three points at The Copperjax Community Stadium in Bromley.
Despite Brighton’s attempt to fire at least a reply at 1-0, London City prevailed through the 90 and in the second-half as they capped off the victory late on in added time.
The win takes London City up to 2nd in the Women’s Super League on 9 points, while Brighton remain 11th as their search for a first league win of the campaign continues, since Arturo Ruiz took over just before the start of the season.
Both sides had a good chunk of the play in the opening stages, but it was especially Mapi León’s left footed set-pieces from both corners and free-kick’s that gave Albion something to think about on a few occasions.
Before the opening goal though, it was Brighton who came the closest to taking the lead, as an Albion corner met the head of Gabby George, who leaped up to head the ball in, which went just over the bar.
Down the other end, Freya Godfrey found herself in space on the right-side where she attempted to find Daniëlle van de Donk, but a dark teal shirt was on guard to clear it out for a corner.
Maisie Symonds pinged a ball out to Marisa Olislagers on the left who played in Lea Wälti in the box who went down and appealed for a penalty, but referee Phoebe Cross denied the appeal.
However, City took the lead on 29 minutes, as Kadidiatou Diani’s shot was rebounded back into play before it was slashed in by Putellas to give the hosts the lead.
Albion came very close to an equaliser, when Kirby’s leaping ball to the back-post was nodded on by Emily Murphy, whose effort his the bar, but a dark teal shirt could not quite capitalise on the parried ball back into play.
Ruiz’ side kept pushing for a leveller, with Kiko Seike causing City problems on the right, and Symonds attempting to create chances from deep, however the visitors could not make it level before the interval.
Ruiz made a change at the break for Albion, as Jelena Čanković was replaced by Olaug Tvedten ahead of the second 45.
Putellas played in Corrales on the left who fired a ball across goal, but the cross was unable a turquoise shirt in the area.
León’s corner was headed away by George, where it fell to Godrey from around 20+ yards out, but the City number 14’s effort went wide of Chiamaka Nnadozie’s goal.
Diani won on free-kick on the right fowling a foul from Manuela Vanegas, as León curled the ball into Putellas, but the Spaniard header went just wide.
Godfrey found herself near on one-on-one with Nnadozie, but she could not quite fire a shot at goal as the ball was nabbed away from her at the last second.
Jana Fernández shot away on the counter attack on the right flank after winning ball off of Tvedten, before eventually slicing a ball across goal that was not attacked by a City shirt.
Delphine Cascarino was Maestre’s first sub of the night, as she replaced Godfrey, which forced van de Donk up top as Cascarino came on to play on the left-wing.
With just under 20 minutes to go, the Lioness goalscorer Putellas was subbed off for María Pérez, with van de Donk taking the armband for the remainder of the 90.
León was carded on the 74th minute, as left a late challenge in on Fran Kirby, who won the Seagulls a free-kick from 35-yards out.
However, London City doubled their lead inside the five additional minutes of added time, as the City number seven Corrales, sliced home Cascarino’s ball across goal to make it 2-0, and seal the win for the hosts.
Albion came close to pulling a goal back in the 93rd minute, but Olivia Garcia’s one-on-one attempt was saved by Elene Lete.
London City Lionesses: 77. Lete (GK), 2. Fernández, 4. Kardinaal, 44. León, 7. Corrales, 88. Geyoro, 16. Arques, 21. Diani (3. Pattinson), 11. Putellas (C) (6. Pérez), 10. van de Donk, 14. Godfrey (20. Cascarino) (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 27. Earps, 13. Linari, 17. Parris, 23. Goodwin, 76. Kafaji, 97. Thomsen
Goals: Putellas 29’, Corrales 90+1’
Bookings: León 74’, Geyoro 87’
Manager: Eder Maestre
Brighton & Hove Albion: 1. Nnadozie (GK), 18. Hayes, 6. George (17. Rayner), 2. Vanegas, 19. Olislagers, 8. Symonds (C), 13. Wälti, 11. Seike, 14. Kirby, 10. Čanković (20. Tvedten), 35. Murphy (21. Garcia) (Formation: 4-3-3)
Unused subs: 28. Loeck (GK), 5. Mpomé, 23. Auee, 27. Peskett, 30. Heeps, 41. Warren
Bookings: Hayes 18’, George 65’, Vanegas 52’
Manager: Arturo Ruiz
Referee: Phoebe Cross
Venue: The Copperjax Community Stadium
Attendance: 4,177
Player of the Match: Alexia Putellas
