FIFA Unites: the tournament providing hope for the Afghan women’s refugee team

By Catherine MacKenzie (29/9/25)

Above: The Afghan women’s refugee team led by Pauline Hamill. Photo: FIFA.

In May of this year, FIFA formally approved the Afghan women’s refugee team. Following the Taliban takeover in 2021, women’s sport in Afghanistan – already subject to violent oppression – was increasingly restricted. The progress made by Khalida Popal – from organising intra-school tournaments for girls to working with the government to form the women’s national team – was suddenly under immense threat.

The Afghan women’s team have not taken part in a competitive match since 2018, and in 2021 many of its players fled the country through fear of persecution. Popal, residing in Denmark as a refugee, helped 500 players and their families evacuate the country, using the power of football to unite players with their new communities: “When you lose your home, the pitch becomes your home”

Above: Khalida Popal. Photo: Hummel International.

Encouraging the refugees she helped to continue with their football journey and use it as a way of integrating was paramount for Popal. With a government-sanctioned women’s national team off the table, she worked closely with FIFA to ensure these players – now living across the world – had the chance to continue their national legacy by representing Afghanistan with a national team.

This was the basis for the Afghan women’s refugee team. More than 70 players attended camps in Sydney and London to aim for a spot on the 23-player squad that would be coached by former Scotland international Pauline Hamill. The former winger earned 141 caps for Scotland, and became the first female football coach at Rangers football club when she was appointed to a youth development role in 2003. Accepting the role, Hamill said:

“Every player involved has a story to tell about their personal journey in football, and it’s incredible to be part of something that shows them that their dream and ambitions in football still exist. They’ve had to leave their country, they’ve been displaced as refugees, and now all of a sudden there’s this amazing opportunity to come together in this project. It feels bigger and deeper than anything I’ve done before, and that really excites me.”

Above: Pauline Hamill. Photo: FIFA Website.

That Hamill understands the potential emotional impact of displacement is highlighted in her assertion that the role feels deeper than anything I’ve done before; this compassionate approach will be paramount in achieving success.

What success looks like will likely become clear later. Visibility, connection, and growth are all words that are commonly used to describe the team’s aims, athough for now the team are focusing on enjoying being able to play football. Player Najma Arefi recently spoke about what the opportunity to continue playing football means:

“Everyone loves football, the feeling of being free, the feeling of sisterhood, the feeling of joy – forgetting everything behind and you’re just enjoying it and being in the present. That’s why I kept playing.”

Support for players will not end with the 23 players selected to form the squad: FIFA will provide long-term support to play football in ‘safe and inclusive environments’ for all Afghan players living in exile. This will include access to educational pathways, coaching, and counselling.

FIFA Unites: Women’s Series

The squad recently completed a talent ID camp at St. George’s Park in England, where the England women’s national team train, and have their first tournament on the horizon – FIFA Unites: Women’s Series.

The event will take place in the United Arab Emirates – near enough to Afghanistan that the heat will be familiar but far enough to ensure security. Alongside the Afghanistan women’s refugee team, the UAE, Chad and Libya will take part in a round-robin competition with each team playing three matches.

Above: UAE ( in white) earlier this year. Photo: Handout/PFF-PWNFT.

That the competition will be held in Dubai is unsurprising: whilst the UAE is also an authoritarian country, it is regularly considered the most liberal in the Middle East, and Dubai the most liberal of its seven Emirates.

As the host nation, the UAE – coached by veteran Dutch coach Vera Pauw – will be looking to build on recent progresses, such as the 2023 launch of the Women’s Football League. For Chad and Libya, the tournament will provide an opportunity to further grow and develop their international talent, and provide visibility to promote growth.

For the Afghan contingent, the tournament is an opportunity but by no means a solution. The ongoing discrimination by the Afghanistan Football Association still means the games will not count towards the team’s official global rankings. As player Mursal Sadat says:

“We have already lost the chance to compete in two World Cups, and this will not change that. We urge FIFA and all its Member Associations to take all measures necessary to stop enabling the ongoing gender discrimination against the Afghanistan Women’s National Team, and to use their power to ensure the women and girls still living in Afghanistan are not forgotten.”

The FIFA Unites: Women’s Series tournament is scheduled to kick off on the 23rd October, lasting until the 29th.

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Celtic and Hibs stalemate hands City and Rangers early advantage in title race

Celtic 1-1 Hibernian

By Gethin Thurlow 22/9/25

Above: Linzi Taylor and Amy Gallacher battle for the ball Photo: Cynic Women

Kathleen McGovern and Lisa Rodgers continued their fine seasons as Celtic and Hibs played out an entertaining draw, which saw both teams slip further behind Rangers and Glasgow City in the SWPL.

The Teams

Elena Sadiku opted to stick with the team she has played throughout the season, although Hannah Luke came in for her debut at left back, allowing Lisa Robertson to move into her preferred position of centre midfield. She has covered effectively at left back, alongside Momo Nakao and Natalie Ross in the middle of the pitch Celtic sought to expose Hibs’ two holding players.

Grant Scott named a very strong side, containing lots of the players who played most of that mid-week Inter Milan game. Tegan Bowie came back in on the left, and Eilidh Adams once again started in attacking midfield, behind striker Kathleen McGovern.

The Action

It was indeed that midfield mismatch which defined the game. Celtic’s trio overpowered Grant and Notley, so while Hibs were able to move the ball down the wings, genuine chances evaded them early on and Celtic instead carried the greater threat on the counterattack.

Ross, Nakao and Robertson moved around fluidly in the centre of the pitch, and they were able to take advantage of some sloppy Hibs passes and touches, quickly turning up and the pitch, looking to feed Cross and McAneny on the wings.

It was also clear that Celtic had observed Schumacher’s recent play; long balls, forcing the American to come out of the box were tried a few times. On one such occasion, Schumacher comically ran into defender Linzi Taylor, taking both players out, but luckily for Hibs the ball fell to Hunter who subsequently cleared.

On the ten-minute mark, Celtic’s wingers connected well inside the box, and McAneny’s played a delicate cross into the middle, with Natalie Ross beating Hunter to the ball and blasting her header through the hands of Schumacher.

As Hibs looked to fight back into the game, it was basic errors and miscommunications that let them down. Ciara Grant had a notably frustrating day, with many of her passes finding empty space or being off target. As the half-time whistle blew, it was Sadiku’s side with the advantage, but they could not be entirely happy with the performance.

As the second half developed, Celtic started to dominate the ball a bit more, and even bringing on new signing Jess Fitzgerald could not stop Hibs’ players failing to be on the same page.

Where Hibs did have some success was players making individual dribbles, with Rosie Livingstone, Tegan Bowie and Caley Gibb all moving effectively down the wings and manouvering past many Ghirls’. Lisa Rodgers was always there to make any saves, while Walsh combined well with Clark at the back for Celtic, snuffing out any easy chances for the duo of Adams and McGovern.

With the game heading the hosts way, Grant gave the ball an ugly hack, bouncing high into the box. Neither Clark nor Walsh fully committed to taking responsibility for the clearance, which allowed McGovern to expertly spin through the middle of both players, while switching the ball to her left foot, allowing her to inch the ball low past the oncoming Lisa Rodgers, just catching the inside of the post.

From a relatively weak position, Hibs were back level and this goal suddenly sparked both teams into life. Celtic stopped time wasting and keeping the ball at the back, while Hibs started to believe again.

The introduction of Rachael Boyle at left back really helped inspire this Hibernian response, and she was able to cause Emma Lawton some issues, cutting inside to combine well with Bowie, who preferred to stay wide and provide a crossing threat with er deadly left foot.

Celtic continued to push the ball into the box, and Hibs were fully committed to breaking with speed and direct passing. McGovern found herself running through on goal in the dying seconds, but was denied by a strong and brave Lisa Rodgers, the ball bounced back to Morrison twice, but somehow Rodgers topped her last-second performance versus Hearts here with a triple save.  

Player of the Match Momo Nakao

Nakao was part of that brilliant Celtic midfield which was able to frustrate Hibs’ midfield in a way most others cannot. Regularly winning the ball back, and reading the game well enough to take advantage of Hibernian’s mistakes, Nakao ensured her opponents had to produce moments of magic to get in behind this defence.

She was also a big threat in attack. Hovering towards the left side of the pitch, Linzi Taylor and Caley Gibb were tasked with limiting the threat of the Japanese midfielder as well as winger McAneny, which ultimately proved too much for them.

Often an unsung hero for Celtic, Nakao is not the frequent goalscorer, or an obvious playmaking threat, but in this game she was central to Sadiku’s attacking and defensive plans.

What this means

With Glasgow City and Rangers both winning, it puts each side two points further away from the top. Celtic stay in third place, with 13 points from six games, three behind Rangers and two behind City. However, Glasgow City do have a game in hand. While they will not be fully satisfied with a draw, after a loss in the derby a couple of weeks ago and a nervy win over Aberdeen last time out it was important to avoid a loss in this game.

The top of the table is still within reach, and all teams have shown vulnerability so far. Sadiku’s side look no less able to win the title than anyone else, and this performance showed an ability to play with the lead which they lacked last Sunday.

For Hibs, they are a further three points adrift of Celtic, although they also have a game in hand on the Ghirls and Rangers. It has been a tough start to the season, having to play four European games already, which is more than anyone else, and they have faced better opponents than City did too.

Despite this, they have kept themselves well in the title race and a point on the road against Celtic – having been knocked out of the Europa Cup mid-week – is a very respectable result. While Grant Scott won’t appreciate falling behind Rangers and Glasgow City, he knows all too well of this team’s ability to come from behind in the title race.

Teams Celtic (4-3-3): Rodgers, Lawton, Clark (c), Walsh, Luke, Ross, Robertson, Nakao, Cross, Gallacher, McAneny. Substitutes: Streicek (for Ross 59’), Courter (for Robinson 77’), McGoldrick (for Gallacher 90+1’), Dawson, Gay, Richardson, Tebbett

Scorer: Ross 10’

Hibernian (4-2-3-1): Schumacher, Gibb, L Taylor, Hunter, Papadopoulos, Grant, Notley (c), Livingstone, Adams, Bowie, McGovern. Substitutes: Fitzgerald (for Notley 63’), Boyle (for Papadopoulos 64’), Burchill (for Livingstone 70’), Morrison (for Adams 85’), Armitage, Boughton, Herron, Ramsey, I Taylor

Scorer: McGovern 72’

Referee: Ross Birrell

Attendance: TBH

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Vrouwen Eredivisie Week 2: Twente show class, ADO and Heerenveen share points

By Jan-Kees Joosse (22/9/25)

Above: Feyenoord v Ajax. Photo: VrEredivisie on X.

In the second round of the Eredivisie Matches, the difference between the title contenders and relegation potentials is beginning to become clear. In his weekly round-up for Impetus Football, Jan-Keese Joosse looks back at an entertaining weekend of Dutch women’s football.

AZ’s Fieke Kroese steamrolls Excelsior in five minutes

Excelsior Rotterdam 1 – 3 AZ

Excelsior briefly seemed on their way to causing an upset but ultimately lost 3-1 to AZ. The Rotterdam side took an early lead through former PSV player Janneke Verheijsen, scoring Excelsior’s first goal of the season.

Above: AZ v Excelsior. Photo: VrEredivisie on X.

The plan to park the bus worked less effectively than it had against PSV, since this time Excelsior also pushed forward more often. AZ sensed opportunities and found their key player in striker Fieke Kroese, who turned out to be in surprisingly excellent form. Within five minutes, she overturned the deficit with two goals, putting the Alkmaar side ahead.

The second half remained tense as AZ failed to secure a safe margin. Only in stoppage time did Ellouzi, playing against her former club, seal the victory with the 3-1.

With this win, AZ claimed their first three points of the season. The team looks strong enough to stay clear of the relegation zone but will need to show more quality if they want to compete for a top-five spot and pick up points against the top clubs PSV, Ajax, and FC Twente.

For Excelsior, it promises to be a difficult season: the side still lacks clear ideas on how to turn possession and defense into attacking play. Simply defending for a draw is proving to be a risky strategy in Dutch football.

Ajax’s struggle against Feyenoord highlights dangers of squad turnover

Feyenoord Rotterdam 0 – 1 Ajax

In the Eredivisie Women, Ajax scraped together three points on Sunday in the so-called “Klassieker” against Feyenoord: 1-0. While the marketing promotes the fixture as the great rivalry of women’s football, competitively it remains a one-sided affair. Feyenoord have never finished higher than the top five, while Ajax have been among the elite for years. Still, this edition provided tension right up until the final whistle.

Above: Feyenoord at kick off. Photo: FeyenoordV1 on X.

Ajax opened the scoring early. In the fourth minute, Danique Tolhoek fired a powerful shot on goal, and 19-year-old breakthrough star Mirte van Koppen reacted quickly to slot in the rebound. It was her third goal of the season, once again proving the value of Ajax’s youth academy.

After that, Feyenoord defended surprisingly well and left a much stronger impression than in their earlier defeat against NAC. Celainy Obispo, Jade van Hensbergen, and Danique Tolhoek all picked up yellow cards, underlining the high tempo and intensity of the match.

In stoppage time, Feyenoord unexpectedly had the chance to equalize when they were awarded a penalty. Lont, however, sent her effort wide of the target – to Ajax’s relief.

Ajax can breathe a sigh of relief after securing three points, while Feyenoord, despite the loss, can take confidence from their strong defensive display and the narrow margin against one of the title contenders. Ajax are still looking for stability after a plethora of players leaving their squad. It’s kind of crazy that the 21-year old Danique Noordman and 19-year old Danique Tolhoek are the leading forces in the team next to Europe’s most internationally-capped player Sherida Spitse. Still their performances are quite impressive, so they don’t have to worry yet.

PSV struggle again at FC Utrecht, but force a controversial win

FC Utrecht 1 – 2 PSV

In the Eredivisie Women, PSV battled to a hard-fought 2-1 win over FC Utrecht on Sunday. The Eindhoven side started brightly, showing plenty of creativity in the opening stages, largely thanks to Chimera Ripa, who repeatedly put pressure on the Utrecht defense.

Above: PSG v FC Utrecht. Photo: VrEredivisie on X.

PSV pinned Utrecht deep in their own half, but the home side could count on an excellent performance from goalkeeper Femke Bastien, who kept her team in the game with several saves. Offensively, Utrecht struggled: the departure of Nurija van Schoonhoven to Ajax was clearly felt.

Where Utrecht had once been known for bold, attacking play, this time they fielded mainly physical battlers. Even so, the home team surprisingly took the lead when Gera Op den Kelder headed in with ease after defender Nina Nijstad was completely caught off guard.

After the break, PSV hit back. A stroke of bad luck for Utrecht occurred when Boremans went down head-injured during an attack, creating confusion in the defense, because the referee was supposed to blow the whistle. GoalKeeper Bastien briefly lost concentration, and Xhemaili capitalized, finishing off a pass from Renate Jansen to level the score. Shortly afterward it went downhill for Utrecht, Lena Mahieu was forced to bring down a breaking Ripa, earning herself a red card and leaving Utrecht further weakened.

With the extra player, PSV piled on the pressure. Once again, Xhemaili Ripa struck—this time with a header for her second goal of the afternoon, almost unchallenged by Utrecht’s depleted defense.

PSV saw out the victory but will be concerned about their unconvincing display—especially after their earlier struggles against Excelsior. If they truly want to compete for the title this season, the playing style will have to rise. FC Utrecht, meanwhile, will need to inject more freshness and attacking spark if they want to make good on their ambitions for European football, but so far they and Feyenoord seem like the teams to make life difficult for the regular top three teams.

PEC show HERA that organisation makes the difference

HERA United 2 – 3 PEC Zwolle

PEC Zwolle kicked off the new Eredivisie season in style with a 3-1 victory over Hera. While PEC looked organized and solid, Hera’s defense left much to be desired, perhaps unsurprising given the many changes in their squad, but still disappointing for an opening match.

Above: PEC Zwolle celebrate. Photo: PECVrouwen on X.

Early in the game, Ilvy Sijp put PEC ahead with a sharp finish. Hera quickly hit back through Vis, who completed a swift counterattack to level the score. PEC, however, stayed composed: Judith Roosjen capitalized on a defensive error to restore the lead, before Hannah Huizinga extended the margin. On that goal, Hera’s defense looked shaky, and coordination with the goalkeeper appeared lacking.

Despite their defensive struggles, Hera produced a surprising moment of brilliance. Kira stunned everyone with a strike from around forty meters, beating the PEC goalkeeper who was caught too far off her line. It was a spectacular goal that briefly gave Hera hope, but they couldn’t sustain that level.

After the break, the pace dropped and no further goals were scored. PEC Zwolle controlled the game and professionally saw out the win. With these three points, PEC have shown they can be a serious mid-table contender this season, capable of challenging teams like ADO, Heerenveen, and perhaps even AZ. Hera, meanwhile, will need to improve defensively if they want to present themselves as a more attractive and stable side for supporters and sponsoring.

NAC Breda’s Naïvity and Ravensbergen’s brilliance seals win for the Tukkers

NAC Breda 0 – 6 FC Twente

FC Twente cruised to a comfortable 6-0 victory over NAC in Breda. The home side paid a heavy price for naïve defending, giving the reigning champions all the space they needed to strike.

Above: NAC v Twente. Photo: NAC.nl.

Early in the match, Twente’s smallest player, Lynn Groenewegen, was left completely unmarked to head in the opener. Not long after, more poor defending led to the second goal: captain Danique van Ginkel found herself so free that she could score with ease.

After the break, things got even more painful for NAC. Rising talent Rose Ivens netted what was perhaps the easiest goal of her career when a corner from Jill Roord dropped right at her feet. Moments later, the NAC defense put the ball into their own net, further shattering their confidence.

Twente had no trouble pressing on. Last season’s league top scorer Jaimy Ravensbergen (profiled here) intercepted a shot from the eager goalgetting Jill Roord and made it 5-0, sparking a teasing laughter from Ravensbergen to Roord. Eva Oude Elberink came on as a substitute and eventually sealed the final score at 6-0.

For Twente, this emphatic win is important in terms of goal difference, which proved decisive in last season’s title race. NAC, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly if they want to survive in the Eredivisie, as they offered the champions no resistance in this match.

ADO Den Haag take steps forward, Heerenveen work to keep them at bay

ADO Den Haag 2 – 2 SC Heerenveen

In the Eredivisie Women, the match between ADO Den Haag and Heerenveen ended in a deserved 2-2 draw. Both teams proved evenly matched and showed they have enough quality to stay clear of the relegation zone without too much trouble.

Above: Ziva Henry opens the scoring. Photo: ADODHVrouwen on X.

ADO Den Haag took the lead in the first half through a strong run in behind from Ziva Henry. Attack-minded Heerenveen, however, stayed composed and equalized through Fenna Meijer. With the score at 1-1, the teams went into halftime – a fair reflection of the game.

The balance continued in the second half. Around the hour mark, Senna Koeleman put ADO back in front, but ten minutes later Aymee Altena leveled things once again.

Both sides displayed Eredivisie-level experience and the ability to grind out points, which will serve them well in the battle to avoid the lower end of the table. For ADO, the attacking play that was missing against Ajax will be an encouraging sign. Heerenveen, meanwhile, will need to tighten their defense if they want to start turning draws into wins.

Follow Jan for all the news about Dutch Women’s Football on www.fcleeuwinnen.nl. Read news about the star players, get strong point of views from our columnists and discover all about upcoming Dutch talents.


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Renee Slegers and Katie Reid anticipate United showdown

By Rachel Gore 21/9/25

Above: Arsenal celebrate scoring against West Ham in 2024/25 Photo: Jay Patel/SPP

Ahead of an early narrative-setting matchup in the WSL, Rachel Gore spoke to Arsenal’s Renee Slegers and Katie Reid

Context

Manchester United and Arsenal sit in first and second place respectively in the WSL table. Both sides have earnt six points so far, but United lead on the goal difference. Sunday’s match will determine which team takes the top spot and set a precedent for what’s to come in the WSL.

What should fans expect?

This clash between the current top two teams in the WSL will be an extremely competitive fixture, and Slegers is anticipating that United are “going to play with a lot of intensity”.

Matches between title-challengers, such as United and Arsenal are crucial for the overall table, but also for mentality. Despite knowing how significant Sunday’s match is for Arsenal, Reid suggested that the North London side will view this match as they do any other fixture. The young defender said:

“You don’t want to make it into this huge, big deal because you don’t want to put too much pressure on yourselves. We’re just going to go out there and play the way we know we can play and just compete and fight for the result, but we believe we can do it and there’s no doubts in everyone’s minds. We’ve got our fans as well; we’ve got a thousand fans coming with their support.”

The 1,000 Arsenal fans that Reid mentioned were also spoken about by Slegers. The manager knows that Leigh Sports Village is “a setting with a big crowd” full of “loud” United fans, but she insists her team “will feed off of” their travelling support.

Slegers’ summarised what these travelling fans, and those watching online, can expect from Sunday’s match in one simple sentence: “I’m sure it will be a very tight game on Sunday with momentum shifts as well, but again, we’re trying to control as much as possible.”

Team news

Arsenal fans will be pleased to hear that Chloe Kelly has been “in big parts of training this week” and the possibility of her return “looks very positive” having been absent from Arsenal’s last matchday squad due to a knock.

Form

Both teams have been prolific in attack throughout their opening two matches, scoring nine goals. Speaking on Arsenal’s performance in the WSL so far this season, Reid said:

“The most important thing is we’ve got two lots of three points from the past two games. I think we’ve scored lots of goals and we’ve got lots of different goals scorers as well.”

The bulk of these goals have occurred in the latter stages of matches. When asked about this emerging pattern, Slegers challenged her team to build into games “earlier and quicker.“

She emphasised the idea however, that getting results was more important than anything else, stating:

“If we can score goals early, then we’ll do it. If they come late, then we’ll go for it as well. Every game has its own story, momentum shifts.”

Looking at the hosts, their goal-scoring output has perhaps been more surprising than that of Arsenal. In previous years, the side’s defence has been relied on to get Mark Skinner’s team over the line, but in 2025/26 their attack has shone.

Speaking on United’s form this season in comparison with the last, Slegers said:

“I still think they have a similar identity to last year, but of course every team is trying to work on the details and add to their squad.”

She added:

“There’s a lot of identity in their game connected to their game out of possession and they have a lot of quality both as a team and as individuals in possession.”

This week, United also secured their place in the main draw of the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the first time. They become the third English team to be playing in this years competition. When asked about the importance of having another English team playing in the Champions League, Reid said:

“I think it’s so important. I think it shows how big the WSL is becoming and even the WSL2. The growth and the money being invested nowadays is so good for the English game. I think it’s a real positive.”

Difference makers

One Arsenal player that has stood out this season is Reid, who has played every minute of Arsenal’s two WSL games so far.

Reid has come through the ranks of Arsenal’s academy and has “a lot of qualities” that Slegers believes Arsenal “need” in their squad. For Slegers, Reid’s standout quality is her mindset: “how she wants to learn, how she’s humble, how she takes things on board, how she communicates”.

Reid’s resilient mindset was evident in Arsenal’s opening fixture against London City Lionesses. Haven given away an early penalty which cost her team the lead, she did not get overwhelmed and played out a solid game, earning her spot in the starting team for the next week.

Reid works on the backline with some extremely experienced players, such as Steph Catley, Emily Fox and Katie McCabe. When asked about what she learns from her teammates, Reid said:

“I learned so much from them, just their communication on the pitch as well, like they’re constantly talking. And even the girls off the pitch; I learn so much from Lotte (Wubben-Moy), Codi (Laia Codina) and all the centre backs because they all have different attributes which are their strengths.”

One of the forwards that Reid and her fellow defenders will face is Melvine Malard, who has already scored four WSL goals for United this season. Malard is strong under pressure with quick footwork and a great first touch. She’s a forward who can play as a central striker or on the wing and therefore she poses as a great threat to Arsenal.

Elizabeth Terland comes into the game with a midweek hat-rick under her belt, having scored all three goals to see United through Champions League qualifying. Reid and the rest of the Arsenal backline will need to be on top form to keep United out. bb

Manchester United v Arsenal kicks off at 14:50 BST and will be broadcast on BBC One.

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Dutch teams in Europe: a fantastic week for the women’s Eredivisie

By Jan-Kees Joosse (19/9/25)

Above: FC Twente celebrate reaching the UWCL league phase. Photo: FCTwenteVrouwen on X.

Dutch women’s football has enjoyed a dream week on the European stage. PSV, Ajax, and FC Twente all delivered strong results, keeping their continental ambitions alive.

PSV stun with sensational comeback

PSV seemed to be out of the Europa League play-offs after a 3-0 defeat in Norway against Rosenborg. But in Eindhoven, the team turned the tie around with a stunning 4-0 victory — a result few had expected after some lackluster performances in recent weeks. This time, all their potential shone through, and the leaders stepped up.

Chimera Ripa opened the scoring early with a sharp cut-in finish, Renate Jansen doubled the lead after a fine assist from young talent Chibani, Nina Nijstad powered in the third from a well-worked corner variation, and Xhemaili sealed the deal after the best flowing attack PSV have shown all season. Thanks to this historic comeback, PSV will compete in the Europa League this season — a massive confidence boost.

With Aniek Nouwen and Fenna Kalma still recovering from injury, PSV’s European future suddenly looks brighter than expected. The Eindhoven side will face FC Minsk in the play-offs.

Above: PSV celebrate. Photo: NOS Sport.
Ajax dominate Sturm Graz and prove consistency

Ajax also impressed on the European stage, defeating Sturm Graz twice by 2-0 to comfortably advance to the second round of the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup.

Striker Danique Tolhoek, just 19 years old, continues to show remarkable movement and work rate, always finding the right positions to score. On the wing, Bo van Egmond punished defensive errors and seems ready to step into the role left behind by Lotte Keukelaar, who recently signed for Real Madrid.

With Yohannes moving to Lyon, Keukelaar to Real Madrid, Kardinaal to London City Lionesses, and Van Gool to Everton, Ajax’s conveyor belt of talent once again proves how much potential the club holds. But these transfers also raise the question: how will Ajax build a recognizable and reliable squad after so many ins and outs?

From the starting XI that played the Champions League quarter-final just 18 months ago, only goalkeeper Regina van Eijk and captain Sherida Spitse still wear the Ajax shirt.

This turnover opens the door for a new generation of exciting teenagers, such as Ranneke Derks, to make their mark. Ajax will head back to the Alps to face GC Frauen in the final play-off round before the knockout stage begins.

FC Twente storm into the UWCL league phase

FC Twente, led by Jill Roord, have booked their place in the league phase of the UEFA Women’s Champions League with an emphatic 8-1 aggregate win over GKS Katowice. After a 4-0 victory in Poland, the Dutch champions finished the job at home with a commanding 4-1 win in Enschede.

Roord once again proved why she is the heartbeat of this team, scoring twice in the first half and setting the tone for Twente’s dominance. Danique van Ginkel added another with a precise strike, before Sophie te Brake capped the night in stoppage time with a spectacular long-range effort.

Above: Jill Roord for FC Twente. Photo: FCTwenteVrouwen on X.

A quieter evening for the Eredivisie’s 2024-25 top scorer Jaimy Ravensbergen in terms of goals, however the 24-year-old showed again why Netherlands fans want her to be given a chance in the national team. Pressing high and with agression, Ravensbergen pulled the Katowice defense out of position, allowing Roord and van Ginkel the space to move. For more about Ravensbergen, the striker has been profiled here.

With their qualification, Twente looks even more dangerous than last season. The squad has remained largely intact, added valuable experience from their previous group-stage campaign, and now enters the league phase with greater maturity and cohesion. Facing Europe’s elite later this year, Twente will be eager to prove it belongs among the continent’s very best.

In the group stage, Twente will host Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Atlético Madrid, while traveling to face Arsenal, OH Leuven, and Benfica.

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WSL2: Amy Merricks says Birmingham City “want to respond” vs Newcastle

By Eloise Smallbone (19/9/25)

Above: Amy Merricks. Photo: Birmingham City.

On Sunday, Birmingham City face Newcastle United in their second home game of the season.

Birmingham City Head Coach Amy Merricks revealed that her team “want to respond” after securing a difficult point away at Sunderland last weekend. Their fixture against Newcastle United is a great opportunity, as both teams are potential title contenders this year.

The fixture promises to be a huge clash, as Birmingham City are currently unbeaten and sit in third place in the league, and Newcastle United are fifth. Fans can look forward to seeing new signings in action for both sides.

In some ways, Birmingham City’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light last weekend was disappointing, as the Blues had several good opportunities throughout the game. Head Coach Amy Merricks described how the team “want to respond from Sunday’s performance.”

There were plenty of positives from the game too, and Merricks commented on having “really good opportunities in the game” however the Blues were “not sharp enough in the final third” and the “biggest piece (to work on) is in the box” and “being clinical”.

Merricks also praised the mentality, work rate and hunger of the Blues. She said that as soon as the final whistle went on Sunday, they already wanted to respond and they are a “really hungry group, I don’t need to say a lot to them as they’re very driven”.

The team’s hunger and drive will be hugely important on Sunday, with Newcastle United also being unbeaten in the WSL 2. Birmingham City’s signings from the summer are also settling into the squad well, and this will only boost the Blues further.

Amy Merricks also spoke about how important the fans will be on Sunday too. She said that they “want the fans behind us again” and described the fanbase as “incredible and very special.” She also described wanting to create a “fortress feeling at St Andrews”, as the team experienced in their first game of the season, which was an emphatic 5-1 home victory against Bristol City.

Merricks also described how this fortress feeling and support from the crowds will go hand in hand with the kind of performance that fans want to see. She told us that the fans will want to see a team that is “competitive” and “on the front foot”.

Birmingham City will face Newcastle United on Sunday 21st September at St. Andrew’s. The match will be broadcast on WSL2’s Youtube channel.

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Elisabeth Terland’s perfect hat-trick gives Manchester United UWCL football

Manchester United 3-0 SK Brann

By Catherine MacKenzie (18/9/25)

Above: United’s Elisabeth Terland celebrates her third goal. Photo: ManUtdWomen on X.

Manchester United made history on Thursday evening as they overturned a 1-0 deficit to reach the UWCL proper for the first time, beating SK Brann 3-0 at Leigh Sports Village thanks to a hat-trick from Elisabeth Terland.

The context

Manchester United had the opportunity to do something they have never done before: reach the first round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Two years ago, they had the same chance but faced a foe at the top of their game in PSG, failing to qualify for the competition proper. United feel they belong in the UWCL – as head coach Marc Skinner said:

“We’re constantly improving, and playing in the Champions League is part of that growth. It’s a platform to test ourselves and push to the next level. We’re not just here to compete; we want to progress and show that Manchester United belongs at the top.”

Skinner’s side controlled the first leg in Norway last week but trailed on aggregate ahead of the return match. Against the run of play, Ingrid Stenevik struck a 76th-minute header to hand Brann the lead. United had a number of chances, with goalkeeper Selma Panengstuen delivering an impressive performance to deny them. They needed more composure up front – and to get around Panengstuen – to overcome the deficit.

For Brann, it would be their second appearance in the UWCL. The Norwegian club made it to the quarter-finals just two years ago, falling to FC Barcelona. They sit top of their domestic league, which runs until November, and remain favourites for the title. At the helm is Leif Smerud, who took charge after Martin Ho departed to join WSL side Tottenham Hotspur.

The teams

Marc Skinner made two changes to the Manchester United lineup following their win against London City Lionesses over the weekend. Dominique Janssen replaced the injured Millie Turner, while Celin Bizet was absent due to a minor issue. As a precaution, Bizet was left out of the squad. Elisabeth Terland returned to the starting lineup.

The Brann team that triumphed 1-0 over United in Norway last week saw just one change. Monica Isaksen was brought into the starting lineup, taking the place of Dilja Zomers, who moved to the bench.

The action

Brann are known for playing aggressively in their domestic league, however started against United with a low block. They were clumsy in the opening minutes, giving the ball away in their own half, insisting on building up from the back with short passes that were easy for United to intercept.

In contrast, United flew out of the block, immediately pressing with aggression. Brann were defending in a narrow shape which gave the home side plenty of space on the wings to cross balls in. It did not take long for United to take the lead: Norwegian Elisabeth Terland won the ball in the penalty area, passing to Jayde Riviere on the wing. Riviere put a well-weighted cross back in which found its way to Terland who fired a powerful shot into the top corner. Terland got her second five minutes later as she latched on to Julia Zigiotti Olme’s corner, sending a header flying past Panengstuen.

The rest of the half persisted in a similar vein: United pressing aggressively and Brann sitting in a deep block with eleven players behind the ball. Throughout the half, the visitors insisted on continuing to play out from the back – which gave United numerous opportunities to The Red Devils did well to find the spaces between the lines but couldn’t quite break the Brann defense down throughout the rest of the half, and Brann survived the rest of the half without further damage.

Following the break, Brann showed a sense of impetus that had been missing for the first half of the game. They pushed their wide players forward, giving United more defensive work to do – a few corners later, United broke out of the press and got the ball back into Brann’s half. United will be pleased that after a half with no work to do, the back line maintained their concentration enough to deal with the team in front of them.

Following a string of chances, Terland completed her perfect hat-trick: the first was scored with her left foot, second with her head, and third with her right foot. The goal came from some neat link-up play between the Norwegian and Melvine Malard. Malard drove forward, and Terland made the overlapping run to latch onto the through ball and poked it past Panengstuen.

Above: Terland celebrates. Photo: ManUtdWomen on X.
Where does this leave the teams?

United made history by reaching the UWCL proper for the first time, and will compete alongside the best teams in Europe. The achievement is both expected and exceptional: United are most often a club that makes headlines due to off-pitch scandal rather than on-pitch achievements. The question now is whether the team have enough depth to sustain runs in a number of competitions – something Skinner has admitted will need to be addressed in the January transfer window.

Brann will be disappointed with how quickly their lead disappeared – they will now take part in the inaugural Europa Cup. However, it is not all negative – head coach Smerud should end the season with the league title, and his team will be strong contenders for the Cup.

TEAMS: MANCHESTER UNITED (4-3-3): Tullis-Joyce, Sandberg, Le Tissier, Toone, Park, Malard, Terland, Riviere, Janssen, Zigiotti, Miyazawa. Substitutes: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, George (for Sandberg 66′), Rolfö (for Malard 66′), Griffiths, Naalsund (for Riviere 78′), Williams (for Terland 83′).

Scorers: Terland 0-1 (8′), 0-2 (13′), 0-3 (62′)

SK BRANN (4-3-3): Panengstuen; Stenevik, Authen, Tynnilä, Lehtola, Bogere, Haugland, Gaupset, Davidson, Isaksen, Eikeland. Substitutes: Stavenes, Kvamme (for Stenevik 87′), Thorisdottir, Ellingsen, Renmark, Lovera (for Isaksen 67′), Zomers (for Davidson 87′), Lie Eghdami, Birkelund (for Tynnilä 87′), Svendheim, Peuhkurinen (for Bogere 46′), Johnsen.

Referee: Marta Huerta de Aza

Attendance: 2,972

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Hibs bow out of Europe with hard-fought Inter defeat

Hibernian 0-1 Internazionale

By Gethin Thurlow at Easter Road for Impetus (18/9/25)

Above: The Hibs starting lineup in Edinburgh Photo: @HibernianWomen on X

Hibs were knocked out of the Europa Cup after a 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan at Easter Road. Coming into the game trailing by three, Hibs played with intensity in attack and stayed solid at the back, and were unfortunate to come away with a loss on the night.

The Matchup

Inter took control of this tie in the first leg, which was in Italy. Scoring two goals within 10 minutes, they asserted themselves on the game from the start. A very spirited response from Hibs brought the game to close at 4-1, with Eilidh Adams grabbing their only goal, scoring from the edge of the box

This presented a mammoth task for the Edinburgh club in the second leg, and different game plan possibilities for Inter Milan to consider. Going into a game three goals up is very different to starting from scratch, and taking advantage of that that was probably the only hope that Hibernian had of causing a shock.

The Teams

Grant Scott made a number of changes from the 5-0 blowing-away of Montrose that his team delivered on Sunday. Particularly notable was the absence of Tegan Bowie, the left winger who provided assists for three of those goals, with Rosie Livingstone and Tiree Burchill preferred on the wings instead.

Rachel Boyle being on the bench was another boost for the hosts, as she has missed the last few weeks with an injury picked up in Champions League qualifying.

Inter Milan meanwhile went full strength as they looked to keep that European run going. They managed to win 4-1 even without Belgian superstar Tessa Wullaert in the first leg, so her return to the starting 11 gave the Italian team even more confidence that they could advance to the next round of the Europa Cup.

The Action

The difference in what both teams needed from the game was clear to see from the off. Hibs were showing clear intent, pushing aggressively forward, going in for every tackle, leaving it all out there essentially. While Inter were not overtly time-wasting, it was clear they were more interested in keeping the ball rather than creating lots of chances.

It was however the visitors who got in early. Papadopoulos held firm to deny Magull, after the Italian side counter attacked from a corner, and Schumacher did well to save a shot from Wullaert as she was played through on goal moments after.

Hibernian had clearly learnt from the first matchup, and were very disciplined in holding a defensive line, catching the Inter Milan attack offside six times in the game.

They knew that good defending couldn’t eradicate a three-goal deficit and began to get more creative in attack, trying anything that could get them a goal and bring that glimmer of hope. Siobhan Hunter attempted a cheeky chip from the halfway line, after McGovern was fouled, but Iceland international Runnarsdottir was not to be caught out.

Chances did come though for the Hibees. Eilidh Adams received an inch perfect pass from Ciara Grant, which allowed her to move past Runarsdottir, but her touch was too big and by the time she shot the angle to the goal was closing and her momentum was taking her away, which resulted in a very easy effort for Inter to defend.

Hibernian also looked in at one point, with a four-on-four counterattack situation, but some indecisiveness from Burchill allowed the defence to take shape again, and Rosie Livingstone miscued a difficult volley from the ensuing cross.

The game looked to have flipped on its head in one single moment when Adams was played behind the defence and Runarsdottircame sprinting out of her box. Lunging in, she missed the ball and Adams went down but the referee remained unmoved, and replays showed that was the correct choice, as they were never contact between the two.

Above: Kathleen McGovern chased the ball around all night Photo: @HibernianWomen on X

Hibs were just three 50-50 moments away from being level but ultimately had not made dent into the gap by half time.

Despite the scoreline, there was no panic from Hibs and at half time they stuck with the players which had challenged the Inter team in the first 45.  

Hibs did start to dominate the game and were able to control the ball in the visitors’ half throughout the first 20 minutes of the second half. In key moments however, Livingstone, Adams, Grant and Burchill all failed to provide the quality needed to get Hibs on the scoreboard. 

As the minutes ebbed away, it was clear how much effort Hibernian had put in, and that the whole team were completely physically and mentally exhausted. They still pushed all they could, but any hope of putting together an attack and having enough quality to score was gone.

The end of the match was overshadowed by Noa Schumacher receiving a red card. Ellis Notley badly underhit a back pass, forcing Schumacher to come out of her box. She clattered down Glionna as the ball ran past; however, Linzi Taylor was behind Schumacher, meaning the goalkeeper was not the last line of defence anymore and that a red card was not necessary.

With a number of mistakes in that Champions League qualifier against Fortuna, it has been a very Jekyll-and-Hyde European campaign for Schumacher. She has made plenty of impressive saves, showing off her flexibility and diving ability, while at the same time making some really costly errors in situations where she’s coming out to meet players, and dealing with crosses.

17-year-old Rowena Armitage was thrust into the action and could do nothing to stop Tomasevic’s strike to give Inter the lead, which did a disservice to the full performance from Hibs.

Overall, Hibs can be proud of a very valiant display, where they never gave up the fight against a very good Inter Milan side. The final result was certainly not a reflection of the entire game, in which there wasn’t much between the sides. While the context of the scores did affect how Inter approached the game, they still pushed hard and would have preferred to wrap up the win before they eventually did.

Teams HIBERNIAN (4-2-3-1): Schumacher, Gibb, L Taylor, Hunter, Papadopoulos, Grant, Notley (c), Adams, Burchill, Livingstone, McGovern Substitutes: Bowie (for Livingstone 69’), Boyle (for Gibb 69’) Armitage (for McGovern 81’), Fitzgerald (for Burchill 88’), Morrison (for Adams 88’)

INTERNAZIONALE (4-4-2): Runarsdottir, Ivana, Milinkovic, Pleidrup, Robustellini, Schough, Magull, Csiszar (c), Vilhjalmsdottir, Bujega, Wullaert Substitutes: Tomasevic (for Magull 61’, Detruyer (for Vilhjalmsdottir 61’), Santi (for Wullaert 71’), Glionna (for Bugeja 71’), Bartoli (for Robustellini 71’)

Scorer: Tomasevic 90+2’

Referee: Riem Hussien (Ger)

Attendance: 1,606.

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Dominant Glasgow City defeat Athlone Town to continue in Europa Cup

Athlone Town 0 – 3 Glasgow City

By Catherine MacKenzie

Above: Kelly Brady clashes with Lisa Evans. Photo: Dan Clohessy/INPHO.

The women’s Europa Cup continued midweek with Glasgow Ciy making the short hop across to the League of Ireland’s Athlone Town.

The context

The first qualifying round of the inaugural Europa Cup kicked off last week; two-legged duels between clubs from across Europe. The second tier of European women’s football, clubs enter the qualifying rounds through either league position or by exiting the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying rounds. The League of Ireland’s Athlone Town were drawn against Scottish Premier League club Glasgow City. Leanne Ross’ City side dominated the first leg, gaining a three goal advantage last week at Petershill.

The action

Following their dominant 3-0 lead in the first leg, Glasgow dominated the early stages. They pressed aggressively without a breakthrough until the 33rd minute, when Republic of Ireland international Emily Whelan latched onto a perfectly tailored cross from Linda Motlhalo and headed home. The Scottish team searched for a second goal for the rest of the half, with Sofia Määttä causing the Athlone defense repeated problems with her pace and ability to work through the lines.

The 20-year-old Finnish international was withdrawn at half-time – with City 4-0 up on aggregate, likely to manage her minutes ahead of a weekend visit from Hearts in the league. Whilst she formed the only change for the visitors, Athlone made a host of changes at the break, starting the second half brightly. They had their first real chances of the game, with Hannah Waesch’s shot missing the target and Madie Gibson taking a dangerous free kick.

However, it did not take long for Glasgow City to re-establish their momentum – and a number of set-pieces followed. Whelan’s corner was met by Dutch defender Kimberley Smit who had a decent chance, and Motlhalo forced a save from Maria Matthaiou in the Athlone goal. Former Arsenal player Lisa Evans delivered a perfectly-weighted corner which met a City head but went wide, and Matthaiou produced a strong diving save to further frustrate the visitors.

A penalty from substitute Nicole Kozlova was saved, but the visitors exploited Athlone’s disorganisation at the back to work the ball easily back into the danger zone. Kozlova was ready to pounce and headed into the net for City’s second goal of the evening. A third followed as Kozlova tapped in from an Amy Muir cross.

Above: Nicole Koslova celebrates. Photo: GlasgowCityFC on X.
Where this leaves the teams

With Hibernian’s exit at the hands of Inter Milan, Glasgow City form the last Scottish side remaining in Europe. This is a mantle the club will hold in high regard: having a team in European competition reflects well on the domestic league – with the introduction of the Europa Cup, there is more of a chance for clubs like City to be seen by a wider audience.

Athlone Town’s exit from the competition will be disappointing for the League of Ireland, however the exposure that has come from the run is positive. There is hope that with this visibility, the league will continue on the path towards becoming fully professional, with greater investment across the board leading to more teams taking part in European competition.

TEAMS: ATHLONE TOWN (4-4-2): Matthaiou, K. Brennan, McNally, Shine, Rice, O’Connor, Slevin, Waesch, Ryan, Brady, Donegan. Substitutes: Plaschko, S. Brennan (for Donegan 46′), Molloy (for O’Connor 46′), Mooney, Gibson (for McNally 46′), Strickland, C. O’Neill, Fitzeraid, D. O’Neill.

GLASGOW CITY (4-3-3): Gibson, Evans, Golob, Smit, Muir, Motlhalo, Lauder, Wróbel, Määttä, Whelan, Forrest. Substitutes: Clachers, Warrington, McLaughlin (for Lauder 59′), Lockwood (for Wróbel 59′), Harrison, Anderson (for Motlhalo 66′), Kozlova (for Forrest 59′), Tanaka (for Määttä 58′), Brownlie, Boyes.

Scorers: Whelan 0-1 (33′), Kozlova 0-2, 0-3 (80′, 82′)

Referee: Karoline Wacker

Attendance: TBC

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