Charlton 0-1 Manchester City: Alex Greenwood free kick keeps City perfect in the WSL
Photo by Richard Pelham via Getty Images
Dan Keley
Dan Keley
It was bottom vs top at The Valley on Saturday afternoon as Charlton Athletic hosted Manchester City in the Barclays Women’s Super League. The hosts have struggled in their opening three WSL games of the season without picking up a solitary point, meanwhile the visitors haven’t looked back since being crowned champions back in May and went into matchday four the only side with a 100% record.
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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Aoba Fujino of Manchester City controls the ball under pressure from Lucy Fitzgerald of Charlton Athletic during the Barclays Women's Super League 2026/27 match between Charlton Athletic and Manchester City at The Valley on September 26, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Aoba Fujino of Manchester City controls the ball under pressure from Lucy Fitzgerald of Charlton Athletic during the Barclays Women's Super League 2026/27 match between Charlton Athletic and Manchester City at The Valley on September 26, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Story of the match
The opening stages went as expected with Andrée Jeglertz’s side having the majority of the ball as Charlton looked to hit the champions on the break, but it was the hosts who had the game’s first opportunity after a ball was played over City’s defence and Cassandra Korhonen beat Eartha Cumings to the ball and had a clear strike at goal, but Gracie Prior was there to make the block and send the ball out of play for a corner kick.
From the resulting Jodie Hutton corner, the ball fell to left back Hawa Cissoko, who hit the shot, however the visitors had too many players back and dealt with the second phase.
Moments later, City had their first attempt of the game after some great play down the right hand side that saw Kerstin Casparij put in a dangerous cross to Mary Fowler, who tried to find the inside of the post, however Sophie Whitehouse got down well and made the save.
At the midway point of the first half, Hutton, who scored Charlton’s only goal in the WSL so far this campaign, cut inside from the left channel and looked to bend one into the top right hand corner, however Cumings outstretched her hand and tipped the ball behind.
As a unit, Charlton were defending superbly, limitingthe Blues to shots outside the box and, just before the half hour mark, centre back Prior saw the ball fall to her feet at the edge of the box and struck a sweet effort that just whistled past Whitehouse’s post.
Moments later, Beth Mead tried her luck from the edge of the box, but her effort was straight down the throat of Whitehouse. Mead was looking for her first Manchester City goal in the WSL after netting her first City goal in the UEFA Women’s Champions League during the comeback at Bayern Munich.
Greenwood breaks the deadlock
Five minutes later, the champions found themselves in the lead, after Grace Clinton was fouled 20 yards from goal. Up stepped captain Alex Greenwood, who took the responsibility and hit a free kick into the bottom right hand corner of the net to finally break down a resolute Charlton side.
In first half stoppage time, Sam Coffey sprayed a lovely ball that Aubo Fujino took into her stride and her resulting cross caused confusion amongstthe Addicks defence, with the ball dropping to Mary Fowler, whose effort was quickly closed down with the ball running through to Whitehouse. Fowler was making her 100th appearance for City this afternoon.
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Grace Clinton of Manchester City runs with the ball during the Barclays Women's Super League 2026/27 match between Charlton Athletic and Manchester City at The Valley on September 26, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Elli Birch - WSL/WSL Football via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Grace Clinton of Manchester City runs with the ball during the Barclays Women's Super League 2026/27 match between Charlton Athletic and Manchester City at The Valley on September 26, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Elli Birch - WSL/WSL Football via Getty Images)
Whitehouse keeps Charlton alive
Two minutes into the second half, City were looking to double their lead and Whitehouse in the Charlton net pulled off an outstanding double save. First Prior’s effort from distance was pushed out, but only to the path of Clinton, whose follow up effort was superbly put behind for a City corner.
Just after the hour mark, the hosts had a glorious chance to equalise after Korhonen headed straight at Cumings after a great cross from the left hand side by Hutton.
In the 70th minute, the visitors almost doubled their lead after a Casparij corner fell to Niamh Charles, whose effort from close range was clawed away by Whitehouse and then Charlton somehow scrambled the ball away. Charles replaced goal scorer Alex Greenwood to make her much awaited Manchester City debut.
Five minutes from time, two Manchester City substitutes combined after Carlotta Wamser put on a delicious cross for Bunny Shaw whose header went wide of the post.
The result means City remain at the summit of the WSL following four wins from four, however Charlton remain at the foot of the table as they still wait for their first points of the season.