Women’s Super League

WEST HAM star Adriana Leon says a  fantastic Olympic gold medal made her fightback from injury all the sweeter.The winger, who turned 29  yesterday, is loving life back in London after glory with Canada at the Tokyo Games.
Adriana Leon feared a foot fracture would prevent her from competing at the Tokyo OlympicsCredit: Getty
The West Ham star did triple workouts in a bid to return to fitness for the Tokyo Olympics and the new WSL seasonCredit: https://www.instagram.com/_adrianaleon_/?hl=en
But she very nearly did not get on the plane at all after a painful foot fracture.
Leon, who joined the Hammers in January 2019, admitted to playing through the pain barrier before finally having an operation.
And the surgery paved the way for a triumphant Olympic run, including a goal against Team GB.
Leon said: “It was a game against the USA at the SheBelieves Cup in February where I really did some damage on my foot.
“I couldn’t even walk at the hotel. It was awful and I played through that and then got back to London and told West Ham that I needed to get a scan as something was not right.
“Sure enough, it was a fracture and I decided to do the operation because the Olympics were around the corner.
“There were definitely times after that surgery where I was thinking to myself, ‘there’s no way I’m making the Canada squad’. The way I felt physically was awful.

“I was doing triple workout days and I worked out for two to three weeks straight and made it into the squad for June. 
I had an unbelievable first camp back and my team-mates were saying they couldn’t believe the condition I  was in after being out for three to four months.
“I was happy just to be at the Olympics and then to win the gold was insane.
“That goal felt incredible, it made it all worth it. All the struggles and ups and downs in my career, it just felt like it was worth it.”
Following Canada’s win in Tokyo Leon says the team will turn their attention to the Women’s World Cup and attempting to win the tournament for the first time in their history.
The Ontario-born winger hopes the Olympic gold will pave the way for a professional women’s football league in her country.
Leon hopes Canada’s Olympic gold triumph will lead to more coverage of women’s football in her countryCredit: Getty
She said:  “I think we’re the only nation amongst the world’s top ten or 15 football sides that doesn’t have a professional league in their own country.
“That’s definitely something that we’d like to see moving forward and even things like media coverage in Canada of women’s sports is still quite poor.
“We’d like to see more media and people talking about women’s football.
“We’ve got a lot of great athletes and a lot of people can’t see it on the big screen. It’s time to change that.”
Leon reckons West Ham can give tonight’s opponents Manchester City a run for their money, despite their opponents winning the five previous WSL clashes between the sides.
The match will see Leon come up against her international team-mate Janine Beckie for the first time since  Tokyo.
Leon, who helped the Hammers reach the 2019 Women’s FA Cup final where they lost 3-0 to City, has high hopes for the Irons this season after 11 new players joined over the summer.
She said: “Our ambition is to finish as a high up in the table and I think the club has shown itself to be  ambitious with the signings made this summer.”
Leon is set to play against Canada team-mate Janine Beckie when West Ham take on Man City at the Academy StadiumCredit: Sportimage
City boss Gareth Taylor wants his side to bounce back from a 5-0 loss to Arsenal last time out but knows the Irons will be tough to beat.
He said: “They will make it difficult. Their results have been good so far.
“They have stepped up in that respect, so we are expecting a tough game.”

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KIM LITTLE came to Arsenal’s rescue with Jonas Eidevall’s aces battling their way to three points against a resolute Aston Villa.The playmaker nabbed a brace – including her 150th Gunners goal – as the league leaders’ unbeaten run continued with a 4-0 win.
Kim Little netted twice for Arsenal who moved back to the top of the WSL table after defeating Aston VillaCredit: Rex
Kim Little has scored 151 times for ArsenalCredit: Reuters
Team boss Eidevall said: “Kim is an amazing player.
“When you see her playing in games when you’re not her coach, you see that she is a great player, and one of those that you get really excited to work with.
“She showed great leadership, great game intelligence. It was really nice to see that she could score two goals.”
The away result at Villa Park saw Eidevall’s side move back to the top of the table before their eagerly awaited Champions League duel with Barcelona.
But the visitors were made to battle for their victory with Carla Ward’s Villans putting on a first-half defensive masterclass.
Anita Asante, Elisha N’Dow and Mayumi Pachecho were all impressive in a back-five rearguard.
Arsenal attempted to get on the attack almost immediately with Nikita Parris forcing a corner in the first minute.
And Vivianne Miedema got on her head on the ball before Villa thwarted the danger by clearing their lines.

Although Arsenal enjoyed the bulk possession at 76 per cent the Villans had a few minor chances in the first half.
Their closest effort came with Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah attempting a long-range strike after spotting Manuela Zinsberger off her line in the 14th minute.
And the visitors came close to breaking the deadlock in the 20th minute with Beth Mead’s in-swinging cross finding Miedema in space between two defenders.
However, keeper Hannah Hampton came out quickly snuff out the danger.
Mayumi Pacheco put in an impressive defensive shift against Arsenal’s Nikita ParrisCredit: Reuters
The second half saw Eidevall roll the dice with Mana Iwabuchi coming in place of Frida Maanum.
And the Japan star’s entrance was followed by Little rolling her defender to give Arsenal the lead in the 51st minute.
Ward’s gutsy Villans held out until the later stages of the game with Hampton making a superb double block following close-range shots from Miedema and Parris.
But the Gunners went on to extend the lead with Tobin Heath ghosting into the box and delivering a swift cut back for Iwabuchi who slotted home the visitors’ third.
The fourth goal for Arsenal came courtesy of a rare Hampton error.
The former Birmingham keeper passed to Katie McCabe who chipped the ball over her head into the goal from 40 yards out.
The players are little disappointed, but I told them if you go out there and you give that sort of effort week-in and week-out and we’ll be just fine in the leagueCarla Ward – Aston Villa manager
And in-form skipper Little notched up her brace with a deflected injury-time effort.
The result saw Villa, who face Reading next, register their first loss of the season.
Mana Iwabuchi was on target for the Gunners against her former clubCredit: PA
But Ward believes should be proud of their efforts after holding Arsenal at bay in the first half.
Villans chief Ward said: “The players are little disappointed, but I told them if you go out there and you give that sort of effort week-in and week-out and we’ll be just fine in the league.
“It was about reminding them that they’re up against – in my opinion – not just one of the best teams in the country right now, but one of the best in Europe.” 

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GURO REITEN helped Chelsea seal a gritty home win against Brighton although the Seagulls gave the Blues a second-half scare. The Norway ace’s strike and a hat-trick of Fran Kirby assists led to a 3-1 Blues victory with the champs going top.  
Guro Reiten and Beth England were both on target for Chelsea who went top of the table after beating BrightonCredit: Reuters
Emma Hayes aces will play Wolfsburg next in the Champions LeagueCredit: Reuters
And the result saw Emma Hayes notch up her 150th WSL match win at the Blues’ helm ahead of her team’s Champions League duel with Wolfsburg on Wednesday.
Hayes said: “I thought it was a wonderful performance from Guro Reiten
“She was exceptional today, got her first goal of the season and the ball from Fran to Sam is out of this world. 
“I think we started the second half when we were still in the changing room and gave away a sloppy goal.
“I thought our game management beyond that limited them to two shots.
“The third goal was the least we deserved and brilliant impact from the bench, once again.
“I’m especially pleased for Beth that will do her confidence, the world of good.”

Chelsea, fresh off the back of their Women’s FA Cup quarters defeat of Birmingham, got off to a fast start in the game’s opening moments. 
And Reiten, who was a regular threat down the left, got the hosts off to a flier with a ninth-minute half-volley into the far corner following a throw-in from Kirby. 
Hayes’s players had another chance to extend their lead minutes later with Harder through on goal but getting caught in possession as Hope Powell’s Seagulls poured into the box. 
And the visitors had a strong chance to level near the twentieth minute with Aileen Whelan unleashing a fierce right-footed shot with Magda Eriksson clearing the ball on the line.
Fran Kirby notched up three assists for Chelsea against BrightonCredit: Getty
However, the champs eventually doubled their lead 11 minutes before half-time. 
Their second came via a long pass from Kirby and a daring header from Sam Kerr after keeper Megan Connolly missed a chance to claim the ball. 
The opening moments of the second half saw Albion pull one back with Danielle Carter poking the ball home following a throw-in from Whelan. 
However, Chelsea put the game out of reach with Fran Kirby driving forward on the right.
And the Blues player threaded in a neat pass into the path of substitute Beth England who buried Chelsea’s third to wrap up the win.
The result saw Brighton, who are fifth, register back-to-back losses with the team looking to bouncing in their clash with Tottenham. 
Danielle Carter pulled a goal back for Brighton in the second-halfCredit: Reuters
Albion boss Powell said: “I think everybody today, defensively, played a really important part, which then means there’s less pressure on our goal, which is exactly what we wanted. 
“Unfortunately, it’s really hard to sustain for 90 minutes.
“Teams will get chances as we got the chance at the other end to score and they had more than three but they managed to score three.”

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PAUL RILEY has been fired as head coach role of US women’s football club North Carolina Courage following sexual coercion allegations made by female players. The accusations against the coach, who is 58 and from England, were made public in an article published by The Athletic on Thursday. 
Paul Riley was the head coach of North Carolina Courage prior to being sackedCredit: Rex
Riley has worked in the National Women’s Soccer League since 2014Credit: AP
And the former Portland Thorns club boss has also had his coaching license suspended by the United States Soccer Federation.
Riley, who was born in Liverpool and began his managerial career in US football in 1986, has been accused of acts of sexual misconduct including coercing a player into having intercourse. 
The Athletic’s report includes accounts from players managed by the coach who has worked in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – the top-flight of women’s club football in America – since 2014. 
Mana Shim and Sinead Farrelly were among the players who went public with their allegations in regard to the former North Carolina Courage coach.
Farrelly played for Riley during his spells at the helm of Philadelphia Independence in 2011, New York Fury in 2012 and Portland Thorns from 2014 up to 2015.
In her interview with The Athletic Farrelly claims Riley coerced her into having sex with him in 2011. 
North Carolina Courage said it ‘commended’ players for ‘bravely sharing their stories’. 

In a statement posted on its official Twitter account on Thursday, the club said: “The North Carolina Courage have terminated head coach Paul Riley effective immediately following very serious allegations of sexual misconduct. 
“The Courage support the players who have come forward and we commend them for bravely sharing their stories.
“The North Carolina Football Club is united together in our commitment to creating a safe, positive and respectful environment, not only within our club but across the league and our great sport.
“As previously stated, players and staff are encouraged to report any inappropriate behaviour in accordance with NWSL policy as we prioritise efforts to maintain the highest professional standards of conduct throughout our organisation.”

The NWSL says it intends to report the allegations to the USA’s Centre for SafeSport to investigate. 
In a statement, the League’s commissioner Lisa Baird said the NWSL plans to set up an ‘anonymous reporting process for players and staff to text concerns’ to them for investigation. 
However, a number of high-profile US women’s national team players have accused the league of failing to investigate allegations. 
They include two-time Women’s World Cup winner and former Tottenham loan star Alex Morgan who called on the league to “take responsibility for a process that failed its own players”. 

The NWSL Players’ Association is reported to be demanding the division commences an ‘independent investigation’. 
The call is one of three demands made by the body that also want the league to disclose how Riley was hired within the division ‘after leaving another club following an investigation into abusive conduct’.
It has been reported that Riley who has managed women’s football clubs in America since 2006, has denied the allegations.  More

MARK CLATTENBURG has come under fire for suggesting women referees have to choose between their jobs and having children.The former Premier League ref reckons female match officials who get pregnant during their careers face a ‘difficult pathway’.
Clattenburg has defended his views about female refs and pregnancyCredit: PA:Press Association
Clattenburg, who left England’s top-flight in 2017 to manage referees in Saudi Arabia, was sharing his opinions with Ally McCoist, Alan Brazil and England rugby ace Joe Marler on talkSPORT.  
And the Durham-born official, who went on to ref in China in February 2019, was asked for his thoughts on Sara Cox making history by becoming the first female referee to oversee a Premiership Rugby clash.
Clattenburg, 46, said: “We always had an assistant referee in the Premier League, Sian Massey (Ellis), and now we have a woman refereeing in the Football League, Rebecca Welch, so women are starting to develop in the men’s game.
“If you look at Uefa, for example, the French woman (Stephanie Frappart) refereed the Super Cup final, so Uefa are getting more and more women.
“The problem with women is, and certainly in refereeing in football, they have a difficult pathway if they get pregnant during their refereeing career – it can stop them a long way.
“So they have to make this choice: do they want to be pregnant or do they want to be referees?”
Clattenburg added: “They’ve also got to pass the men’s fitness test.
“A lot of women struggle with the men’s fitness test. If you want to be in the men’s game, you have to meet those criteria.

“So, if they pass all this, and they choose the right path, I believe that women should be involved in the men’s game, as well as men being involved in the women’s game.
“If we look at the Women’s Soccer League, for example, there’s been some high-profile mistakes.
“Why not bring in the best referees, if you’ve got the best leagues.”
Clattenburg’s views got short shrift from some accounts on social media with one describing them as outdated.
One Twitter account user pointed to seven-time Wimbledon champ Serena Williams and two Women’s World Cup winner Alex Morgan as examples of women performing in sport at the highest levels after having children.
And another Tweeter suggested Clattenburg’s views made him think he had ‘woken up in the 1940s’.

When quizzed on his opinion the former Prem ref, who oversaw the Euros 2016 final between Portugal and France, refused to alter his standpoint.
Clattenburg said: “Women have to make that sacrifice. Say if they get to a certain level in refereeing, and they want to get to that next level.
“If you become pregnant, it can cost you two or three years of your life.
Sian Massey-Ellis has continued her officiating at the highest levels of football after having a babyCredit: Getty
“Once you lose that three years, somebody else takes your position, so that they move up.
“If you want to have babies, you’ve got to do it early in your career.
“If you start having babies later on in your career, you miss that opportunity and it’s sad because there are some great women.”

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