Above: Manchester City celebrate winning on penalties. Photo: ManCityWomen on X.
The inaugural World Sevens competition kicked off this week in Portugal. Impetus’ Catherine MacKenzie breaks down the action from the early games on day two.
What is the World Sevens tournament?
The “World Sevens” tournament is a new international seven-a-side women’s football competition. It is being held from May 21 to May 23, 2025, in Estoril, Portugal.
It is normally high scoring, played on a smaller field, with two halves of fifteen minutes and rolling substitutions. The Estoril event marks the beginning of a new international series, with a North American leg planned for later in 2025.
The teams that are involved in Portugal are: Manchester United, Manchester City, Ajax, Benfica, Roma, Paris Saint-Germain, Rosengård, and Bayern Munich. Some teams have taken their full squads, whilst others have left some players at home – particularly those returning from injury (such as Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood).
The first two days consist of group games. The 23rd May will see the top two teams from each group compete in a semi-final; the winner of each semi-final will compete the final.
All games are broadcast free on DAZN YouTube.
Day two early games recap
Manchester City 2 – 2 Ajax
Bayern 4 – 0 Rosengard
Roma 1 – 2 PSG
Manchester United 3 – 1 Benfica
Manchester City – Ajax
Score: 2 – 2 (City win 6-5 on penalties)
Goal scorers:
Manchester City: Kerolin 4′, Park 17′
Ajax: Yohannes (pen) 23′, Noordman 29′
Takeaways from the game:
The first match of the day provided the tournament’s first extra time and sudden death penalties. At the full-time whistle, the score was 2-2 courtesy of Kerolin and Park for City and a Yohannes penalty and Noordman goal for Ajax. Ajax seemed to have found their rhythm with the format. The most important learning Ajax have taken from the first day is that with such a small pitch and with only seven members of the team, every member of the team needs to defend as well as attack. There can be no strictly defined roles.
City had a strong performance but there were defensive frailties. Khiara Keating in goal enjoyed playing a role in outfield, taking some risks that a more clinical opponent would likely capitalise on. They also used their substitutes to confuse Ajax – as soon as the Dutch team settled into the game, City would make wholesale changes to upset them – which would become a theme throughout the day.
Bayern Munich – Rosengard
Score: 4 – 0
Goal scorers:
Bayern Munich: Tanikawa 4′, Damnjanovic 16′, Harder 18′, Olme 29′
Takeaways from the game:
In the most dominant display of the day, Bayern Munich compounded Rosengard’s woes (after losing 4-0 to Manchester City yesterday); the Swedish team conceded another four and have now conceded eight in the competition without reply.
Bayern dominated from start to finish with little rebuttal. Tuva Hansen continued her fine form from the opening day, using technicality to outwit the Rosengard defence. Pernille Harder scored the tournament’s first header, and Scottish international goalkeeper Eartha Cumings had to make several significant saves in the Rosengard goal.
Roma – PSG
Score: 1 – 2
Goal scorers:
PSG: Echegini 19′, Leuchter 35′
Roma: Corelli 10′
Takeaways from the game:
If there is a team that can feel aggrieved from the opening rounds of the competition, it is Roma. They were arguably the better team for much of their duel with PSG and should have had a penalty near the end of the game. The game seemed destined for penalties before Romee Leuchter scored PSG’s second with a minute left on the clock.
Although they will feel aggrieved, Roma can take some real positives from the match. They went toe-to-toe and were the better side for significant portions of the game.
Benfica – Manchester United
Score: 1 – 3
Goal scorers:
Benfica: Norton 21′
Manchester United: Bizet 2′, Awujo 13′, 18′
Takeaways from the game:
United started this game much more aggressively than their previous outing. Celin Bizet scored within a minute, and Benfica were on the back foot immediately.
United’s physicality was their main strength, as they were much more affective at winning the ball back in midfield thanks to Dominique Janssen and Grace Clinton. Yet again, they played a strong starting seven – comprised of players who play week in week out. Whilst other teams have used this competition as an opportunity to give younger players some exposure and game time, United are keen to win.
Benfica – the most local team of the tournament – will finish their competition tonight against Roma, having failed to reach the semi-finals.
Takeaways from the early games
All games were more tactically astute on the second day, showing the teams’ learnings from the opening day. Many teams stopped trying to play out from the back, and some decided to use substitutions strategically – replacing their entire outfield every five minutes. Tomorrow’s semi-finals may include a Manchester derby on foreign shores; which, based on form, would likely be a relatively even match.
All teams will play again this evening.
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