Soccer Football - Women's Super League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 22, 2024 Arsenal's Manuela Zinsberger reacts after Manchester City's Jessica Park scored their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
LONDON (Reuters) -Manchester City striker Vivianne Miedema scored and made another goal against her former club Arsenal, who still managed to grab a 2-2 draw on the opening weekend of the Women's Super League thanks to a late Beth Mead strike at The Emirates on Sunday.
Champions Chelsea got the season under way on Friday with a 1-0 home win over Aston Villa but Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur lead the standings on goal difference after 4-0 wins over Everton and Crystal Palace respectively.
After City finished second last term and Arsenal third, the drama began early with Frida Maanum firing the Gunners ahead in the eighth minute, the Norway international burying the ball in the top-right corner after a slick move down the right.
It was almost inevitable that all-time WSL top scorer Miedema, who joined City as a free agent in the close season after seven years at Arsenal, would get on the scoresheet and the Dutch international struck in the 42nd minute with a heavily deflected effort that wrong-footed keeper Manuela Zinzberger.
Arsenal's Caitlin Foord had an effort ruled out for offside early in the second half and instead it was City who went in front, Jess Park collecting Miedema's headed knock-down before smacking a sumptuous half-volley in off the underside of the bar to make it 2-1.
Arsenal's Mead was to have the final say, however, as she reacted quickest after fellow substitute Rosa Kafaji hit the left-hand post to squeeze home the rebound in the 81st minute to grab a valuable point for her side.
"I’m really happy with the reception I got from the Arsenal fans, and the most important thing today was to start the season well with the new team. It’s always nice to get off that zero again and get a goal. From now on it’s just focus on the next games," City scorer Miedema said.
Later in north London, Tottenham boasted four different scorers as they welcomed promoted Crystal Palace to the top flight with a hammering that saw Eagles substitute Brooke Aspin sent off in second-half stoppage time.
That result was enough to put Spurs level at the top with Brighton, for whom Kiko Seike scored the first-ever hat-trick by a WSL debutant as they thumped Everton on Saturday.
Things went only slightly better for Merseyside rivals Liverpool, who were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Leicester City on Sunday, while FA Cup holders Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 victory over West Ham United on Saturday.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Ken Ferris)
