Brighton 4 Charlton 0
Charlton were beaten 4-0 by Brighton in their opening Subway Players Cup match at Broadfield Stadium.
The early exchanges saw both sides make progress into the opposition's final third, without creating many chances, before Brighton began to get a grip of the game, increasing the pressure on the Charlton goal.
Several Brighton corners followed and eventually the pressure paid off for the hosts after an overhit corner was turned back into the box by Olivia Garica, picking out Olaug Tvedten who neatly helped the ball into the bottom corner of Anna Koivunen’s goal.
It was a first start of the season for Koivunen, whose saves either side of that opening goal ensured Charlton remained in the game going into the second half.
Charlton’s lone first-half shot on target came from Gillian Kenney, who cut inside from the left wing only to fire a comfortable effort straight at the keeper.
Brighton began the second half positively, and we rewarded with a penalty in the 51st minute when Tvedtne was taken down in the box by Leighanne Robe. Tvedten stepped up to take the spot-kick only to hit the post.
It wasn’t long before she made amends for that miss, finding the back of the net once again after being slid into the box by Emily Murphy.
Olivia Garcia continued to find joy down the right-hand side and in the 64th minute was once again denied by the strong hand of Koivunen, with the resulting corner leading to Brighton’s third of the night, headed home by Caitlin Hayes.
Brighton then added a fourth in the 82nd minute when Sophie Peskett headed home a cross off the bottom of the bar and into the net.
Charlton: Koivunen; Mason (Lobato 67), Cissoko, Robe, Johnston; Lockwood, Flannery (C); Korhonen (Hutton 67), Kenney (Fitzgerald 67), Humphrey (Nelson-Iye 67); Azzaro.
Subs (not used): Pedersen, N'Dow, Davidson, Van Egmond, Siber
Brighton: Loeck; Walti (Symonds 60), Auee (George 46), Vanegas (Cankovic 76), Hayes; Garcia (Warren 72), Joramo, Murphy (Olislagers 60); Tvdten, Rayner, Peskett
Subs (not used): Heeps, Kirby, Nnadozie, Seike
Goals: Tvedten 15, 55; Hayes 65; Peskett 82
Referee: Oliver Mackey
Attendance: 556