World Sevens Football London Round-up

London City played in the World Sevens Football London edition at the Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford. 

Drawn in group 1, London City took on Leicester City and Everton on Thursday and then faced Chelsea on Friday evening. 

They were narrowly beaten by Leicester (1-2) and Everton (1-2) before playing out an entertaining seven-goal thriller with Chelsea, coming out on the wrong side in a 5-2 defeat. 

Eight Barclays Women’s Super League clubs competed in a round-robin group stage on Thursday and Friday, with the top two clubs from each of the two groups advancing to the semi-final matches on Saturday. The results mean London City exit at the group stage. 

Each match saw both sides use rolling substitutes throughout.

London City 1-2 Leicester City 

Alanna Kennedy’s late strike proved consolation as London City were beaten in their opening match.  

The Foxes took the lead on six minutes through Nelly La.

Corrine Henson and Daniëlle van de Donk had chances to level, the latter carving an effort following a mazy run. 

Stopper Emily Orman was called into action on numerous occasions and saved well while Leicester custodian Katie Keane also produced a string of fine interventions. 

Early in the second period, the recently-introduced stopper Elene Lete was called into action, saving low from a power-driver.

At the other end, an intricate move involving Poppy Pattinson and Van de Donk who played in Godfrey, the Leicester stopper gathered her effort.

On 24 minutes, Rosella Ayane finished well into the top corner after a well worked move down the right to give the Foxes a two-goal cushion. 

Kennedy finished well with two minutes remaining while Keane produced more magic between the sticks to preserve the East Midlands outfit’s lead. 

Starting 7: Orman, Pattinson, Kardinaal, Goldie, Godfrey, Franssi, Kennedy 

Substitutes: Lete, Kumagai (C), Van de Donk, Partido, Roddar, Goodwin, Henson 

London City 1-2 Everton

In their second fixture, London City were narrowly beaten by Everton. 

Everton’s Ruby Mace gave her side a sixth-minute lead, after arriving into the box and executing a first-time finish. 

London City responded brightly with Toffees stopper Emily Ramsey called into action, the best opportunity coming from Nikita Parris whose effort came following a fine marauding run. 

Eder Maestre’s side were strong in possession but couldn’t find the breakthrough or create clear openings. A fine breakaway move saw Grace Geyoro, play in  Daniëlle van de Donk in the box, the midfielder unable to get her shot away after being marshalled by the Everton defence.

Goalkeepers continued to shine and London City Sophia Poor produced a fine save to keep the score at one. 

At the other end, Delphine Cascarino’s header edged  just over the crossbar.

With three minutes remaining, Zara Kramzar doubled Scott Phelan’s side’s lead after an intelligent pass from Katja Snoeijs.

Lucía Corrales gave London City hope with a deft header in the closing moments but Everton held firm. 

Starting 7: Lete, Fernández, Pérez, Corrales, Linari (C), Parris, Lindström

Substitutes: Poor, Kardinaal, Van de Donk, Cascarino, Imuran, Sangaré, Geyoro

Chelsea 5-2 London City

The final group game saw London City beaten despite a spirited effort against Chelsea. 

Nikita Parris opened the scoring after a smart ball from Lucía Corrales before Lola Brown levelled the scores from close-range.

Sandy Baltimore fired home on 12 minutes to give the West Londoners the lead. Alyssa Thompson forced Elene Lete into a strong save with her legs before London City’s Alanna Kennedy came close to netting her second goal in three matches.

Keira Walsh added a third goal for Chelsea just before the break.

After the interval, Wassa Sangaré headed in Delphine Cascarino’s pinpoint cross to net in her final appearance before returning to Lyon following her loan spell, to reduce the deficit.

Freya Godfrey’s fine cross was directed behind and Kennedy’s header was then well saved by Hannah Hampton. 

Rofiat Imran also saw her attempt from distance edge narrowly wide as Eder Maestre’s side piled forward.

Chelsea were always a threat and the impressive Aggie Beever-Jones netted and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd sealed the win with a composed finish late on.

Starting 7: Lete, Fernández, Pattinson, Pérez, Godfrey, Parris, Sangaré

Substitutes: Poor, Goldie, Corrales, Linari (C), Cascarino, Imuran, Kennedy