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It was a weekend of impressive defensive performances during gameweek 12 in the WSL, with Manchester United and Arsenal both left frustrated by Everton and West Ham.
Chelsea saw off a spirited Tottenham and there were also wins for Manchester City and Liverpool over the course of the six fixtures.
But which players stood out? Here’s 90min’s WSL team of the week for gameweek 12.
GK: Janina Leitzig (Leicester) – Although the Foxes slipped to a 2-0 defeat to Man City, the Sky Blues’ margin of victory could have been so much more had they not come up against Leitzig in inspired form. The Leicester goalkeeper made a full 15 saves, with her second half stop to deny Bunny Shaw from point blank range the pick of the bunch. In a weekend of superb goalkeeping displays across the WSL, Leitzig takes the number one spot.
CB: Grace Fisk (West Ham) – West Ham turned in a heroic defensive display to earn a hard fought 0-0 draw with Arsenal, and Fisk was pivotal to that. The centre back popped up time after time with blocks, clearances and headers to help her side preserve a clean sheet.
CB: Hawa Cissoko (West Ham) – Cissoko was instrumental alongside Fisk in West Ham’s mammoth defensive effort, helping to halt wave after wave of Arsenal attack. Her strength and reading of the game helped her to keep Stina Blackstenius under wraps, and she produced a huge block in the first half to shut out a goal-bound Caitlin Foord effort. The defender even triggered a rare West Ham counter attack with a tremendous, sweeping switch of play.
CB: Nathalie Bjorn (Everton) – Just like West Ham, Everton turned in a huge defensive performance on Sunday, holding Manchester United to a 0-0 draw. Key to their hard-fought clean sheet was the imperious Nathalie Bjorn, repelling everything that came her way.
RWB: Emma Koivisto (Liverpool) – A very good day at the office for wingback Koivisto – a clean sheet and an assist as Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners over Reading. Helped her side break the deadlock with a low, fizzing cross to Missy Bo Kearns, and came to her side’s aid defensively with a goal line clearance to deny Gemma Evans.
CM: Fuka Nagano (Liverpool) – Nagano has had an instant impact on this Liverpool side after joining in January, and turned in a player of the match performance on Sunday. Classy and efficient in possession, and absolutely everywhere out of possession to win the ball back for the Reds.
CM: Ceri Holland (Liverpool) – Alongside Nagano in midfield for Liverpool, Holland turned in a similarly all-action performance. The midfielder popped up at the back post to add her side’s second – her second goal in as many games – and was at the heart of the action throughout.
LWB: Gabby George (Everton) – George continued her mightily impressive season with a big display against Man Utd, producing a huge defensive performance to help Everton to a clean sheet. The defender was also a source of attacking danger for the Toffees during a few rare forays forward.
FW: Lauren James (Chelsea) – Another top display from James as Chelsea took all three points against Tottenham. The forward gave Kerys Harrop a tough time of it and provided the moment of the game with a fabulous solo goal, slaloming in and out of challenges before passing the ball into the bottom corner.
ST: Bunny Shaw (Man City) – The WSL’s top scorer extended her lead at the top of the goalscoring charts by breaking the deadlock after an hour against Leicester, planting a looping header past Leitzig to finally break the Foxes resilience.
FW: Chloe Kelly (Man City) – Kelly opened her WSL account for the season with a wonderful piece of individual brilliance, cutting in from the right, driving into the box and finding the corner with a rasping left footed effort. The winger linked up well with the similarly impressive Kerstin Casparij throughout.
