Khadija Shaw scored four goals as Manchester City hammered Brighton to climb to third in the Women’s Super League.
Shaw struck twice in the first 12 minutes and when Caroline Weir quickly added another the game seemed over.
Brighton pulled two back before half-time, but Shaw scored twice more and Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp also netted after the break.
Victory was City’s 11th in a row in all competitions.
It lifted them two points above rivals Manchester United and into the final Champions League qualifying spot with two games remaining.
If United fail to beat West Ham at home on Sunday, City will confirm Champions League football next season with victory over Birmingham on Wednesday.
Goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck pulled off an excellent save to keep City in the game at 3-2.
Chloe Kelly, recently recovered from a serious knee injury, impressed on the right flank and contributed to City’s potency going forward.
They travel to Reading in their final WSL game on 8 May.
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Man City Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 26Roebuck
- 20Bronze
- 33KennedySubstituted forMaceat 73′minutes
- 5Greenwood
- 3Stokes
- 10Stanway
- 24Walsh
- 19WeirSubstituted forAngeldahlat 78′minutes
- 9KellySubstituted forRasoat 63′minutes
- 21ShawSubstituted forWhiteat 78′minutes
- 15HempSubstituted forBlakstadat 73′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Coombs
- 12Angeldahl
- 13Raso
- 18White
- 30Mace
- 34Benameur
- 35Keating
- 41Blakstad
Brighton Women
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Walsh
- 6Le Tissier
- 17Kullberg
- 20WilliamsSubstituted forKerkdijkat 62′minutes
- 2Koivisto
- 10Kaagman
- 8ConnollySubstituted forSimpkinsat 88′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 21Zigiotti Olme
- 15Green
- 9LeeSubstituted forSymondsat 87′minutes
- 18CarterSubstituted forWhelanat 72′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Gibbons
- 4Bowman
- 5Kerkdijk
- 7Whelan
- 12Bance
- 19Simpkins
- 24Symonds
- 40Startup
- Referee:
- Amy Fearns
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home70%
- Away30%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home11
- Away3
- Corners
- Home4
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away6
Live Text
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Post update
Match ends, Manchester City Women 7, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 2.
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester City Women 7, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 2.
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Booking
Emily Simpkins (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Post update
Keira Walsh (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Post update
Foul by Emily Simpkins (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).
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Post update
Attempt saved. Hayley Raso (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Emily Simpkins replaces Megan Connolly.
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Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Maisie Symonds replaces Lee Geum-Min.
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Post update
Foul by Hayley Raso (Manchester City Women).
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Post update
Emma Koivisto (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Attempt missed. Julie Blakstad (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Hayley Raso with a cross.
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Post update
Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Maya Le Tissier.
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Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City Women. Filippa Angeldahl replaces Caroline Weir.
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Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City Women. Ellen White replaces Khadija Shaw.
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Post update
Offside, Manchester City Women. Alex Greenwood tries a through ball, but Georgia Stanway is caught offside.
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Post update
Foul by Julie Blakstad (Manchester City Women).
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Post update
Maya Le Tissier (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City Women. Ruby Mace replaces Alanna Kennedy.
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Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City Women. Julie Blakstad replaces Lauren Hemp.
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Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Aileen Whelan replaces Danielle Carter.