Matildas Abroad Review: Galic’s FC Twente win KNVB Cup; Kennedy assists in Angel City victory; Whyman keeps clean sheet.

Daniela Galic’s FC Twente won the KNVB Women’s Cup over the weekend, defeating PSV 2-1.

Arsenal defeated Manchester United 4-3 to finish second in the WSL, and Alanna Kennedy assisted Angel City in their 2-0 victory.

Read our review of the Matildas Abroad action below.

England

Manchester City finished the season with a 5-2 win over Crystal Palace. Kerolin and Rebecca Knaak each scored a brace, and Jill Roord also contributed. City finished fourth in the season, out of contention for European places, while Crystal Palace finished last and were relegated to the Championship. Mary Fowler was unavailable for City.

Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool capped off an undefeated and successful league season. Aggie Beever-Jones scored in stoppage time to cap a successful season. Sam Kerr did not play for Chelsea this season, and Teagan Micah was an unused substitute for Liverpool.

Everton and Tottenham Hotspur finished the season with a 1–1 draw. The Toffees’ Veatriki Sarri scored first, followed by Drew Spence’s equaliser for Spurs. Spurs’ Clare Hunt started the game and Charli Grant came on as a substitute in the second half. Clare Wheeler started for Everton, while Hayley Raso was unavailable for Spurs.

Leicester City finished the season on a high note, defeating West Ham 4–2. Hannah Cain scored two goals, and their clinical finishing made all the difference. Katrina Gorry started in midfield for the Hammers, and Courtney Nevin was an unused substitute for Leicester. Gorry received the WSL Player Champion of Change award at the end of the season.

Aston Villa defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 to maintain their excellent season-ending form and send a warning shot into the future. The goalscorers were Ebony Salmon, Rachel Daly, and Maz Pacheco. Despite the final-day defeat, the Seagulls had a successful season overall, finishing fifth as the best team outside the top four.

Finally, Arsenal defeated Manchester United 4-3 to secure second place and improved UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification for next season. The Gunners’ goalscorers were Chloe Kelly, Mariona Caldentey, Frida Maanum, and Kim Little. Arsenal’s Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord started, while Kyra Cooney-Cross remained an unused substitute.

France

Lyon defeated Dijon 4-1, advancing to the Division 1 Feminine play-offs final next week. Lyon’s goalscorers included Eugenie Le Sommer, Lindsey Heaps, Vanessa Gilles, and Ada Hegerberg. Ellie Carpenter started and played the entire match at right back.

The United States

Angel City FC defeated the Utah Royals 2-0. Alanna Kennedy assisted Christen Press for the first goal in the second half, shortly after her substitution, and Alyssa Thompson sealed the win in stoppage time. Kennedy started and played the entire match in midfield.

Alanna Kennedy and Christen Press celebrate following Angel City’s goal over Utah Royals FC. (Photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire)

The Orlando Pride scored a stoppage-time equaliser to tie the game 1-1 against the North Carolina Courage. For much of the game, it appeared that Felicitias Raunch’s first-half goal would be enough to secure all three points for the Courage, but this was not the case. Cortnee Vine was an unused substitute for North Carolina.

The Portland Thorns finally broke through against a 10-player San Diego Wave thanks to a penalty in the 98th minute. Kimmi Ascanio scored the Wave’s first goal before Kennedy Wesley was sent off in the first half, leaving them with one player. It appeared that they might be able to hold on for the points until Jayden Perry converted a penalty kick deep into stoppage time. The Thorns were without Mackenzie Arnold, and Kaitlyn Torpey was a substitute who did not play.

Sweden

AIK Fotboll defeated first-place Hammarby 1-0, with Jada Whyman maintaining her third consecutive clean sheet. AIK secured the upset victory with a goal from Rut Dahlqvist in the 79th minute, propelling them into midtable. Whyman started and played the entire match in goal.

Jada Whyman makes a save for AIK against Hammarby. (Photo: IMAGO / Bildbyran)

Kristianstads DFF was also on the winning side, defeating Vittsjö 3-2. Amy Sayer made her first start since recovering from her ACL injury. Sayer started but was replaced in the second half, and Remy Siemsen came on as a substitute.

Denmark

FC Nordsjaelland snapped their losing streak over the weekend, drawing 0-0 with Aarhus to maintain their second-place league position. However, they officially ceded the title to Fortuna Hjørring, who now lead by ten points with three games remaining. Winonah Heatley started and completed the entire match for Nordsjælland.

Netherlands

FC Twente won the KNVB Women’s Cup over the weekend, defeating PSV 2-1. Lynn Groenewegen and Kayleigh van Dooren scored the only goals they needed to win the game. They are now one league win away from achieving the double this season. Daniela Galic was an unused substitute for Twente.

Germany

TSG Hoffenheim finished the season with a 4-0 win over Carl Zeiss Jena. Selina Cerci scored a hat-trick as they easily defeated their opponents. The victory means they finished sixth in the Frauen-Bundesliga. Jamilla Rankin started and finished the final game of her first league season in Germany.