We’ve reached the top three in our countdown of the best WSL games from last season. It’s time to take a look back at Vivianne Miedema’s impeccable performance at Borehamwood.
With the WSL season brought to an end as a result of Covid-19, Her Football Hub are counting down the top 10 games from the WSL season. At number three is Arsenal 11-1 Bristol City on December 1.
Most of the games on the list have been tightly-contested competitive affairs – not this one.
Breaking All The Records
Prior to this, the record for biggest win in the WSL was 9-0. Back when Liverpool beat Doncaster Belles in 2013.
Vivianne Miedema broke the record for goals in a Super League game (6) and the record for goal involvements (10).
The 2018/19 PFA Player of the Year and the 2019/20 FWA Player of the Year controlled the game from start to finish.
Even if it took her 15 minutes to get her first goal against Bristol City, the Gunners were already 2-0 up when she did.
Embed from Getty ImagesShe provided assists for the first two goals that the North London outfit scored. Viv gave a helping hand to both Lisa Evans and Leah Williamson as they ran out to a 2-0 lead before 10 minutes had passed.
Viv’s first goal came five minutes later. She took one touch before shooting in the City box, firing low beyond Sophie Baggaley.
That was just one of 34 shots that Arsenal had on the day, 16 of which were on target. Sophie Baggaley truly faced an onslaught of shots on this cold December afternoon.
Her second was even easier as a wonderful Beth Mead cross found the Dutch striker at the back post. All she had to do was turn it into the back of an empty net.
Flo Brown couldn’t stop Miedema completing her hat-trick just before half-time. Arsenal took a commanding 5-0 lead into the second half.
From Bad to Worse for Bristol City
It only took six minutes following the resumption for Miedema to add her fourth of the game.
Daniëlle van de Donk slipped a ball through the Bristol defence, finding Miedema in the perfect position to curve an effort into the back of the net.
Three minutes later Jordan Nobbs was on the scoresheet. A perfectly placed left-footed ball from Miedema put the ball on a platter for Nobbs to tap home.
Two minutes after that, Viv had her fifth.
READ MORE: Opinion: Why Vivianne Miedema is the Best Striker in the World
Lisa Evans completed her brace on the hour-mark after Miedema put a ridiculous chip into the box for the Scot to latch onto.
The 23-year-old Dutch striker completed her 10-goal haul just four minutes later. She smashed the ball past Baggaley and calmly walked away like it was nothing.
By this point, Arsenal had scored five in 14 minutes, so respectfully decided to give the Vixens a break and wait until the 79th minute to add the 11th.
Embed from Getty ImagesWith Miedema substituted, it was down to Emma Mitchell to get the final Gunners goal of the afternoon. Beth Mead found the now-Spurs player behind the Bristol defence.
Mitchell then fired home with her left foot, giving Baggaley no chance.
With just five minutes left of the game, Bristol City were given a slight hint of a comeback. Except, not really.
Manuela Zinsberger tripped Yana Daniëls in the box and the referee was quick to award a penalty.
Daniëls had the inital effort saved by Zinsberger, before thumping the rebound in to make it 11-1 to Arsenal. Those two shots were Bristol’s only two shots on target for the entire game.
Watch highlights from the game here, or visit the FA Player to catch the full 90.
Our 2019/20 Best WSL Games List so far:
10. Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal, October 13, 2019.
9. Manchester United 0-1 Bristol City, January 5, 2020.
8. West Ham 3-2 Manchester United, December 1, 2019.
7. Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United, September 7, 2019.
6. Liverpool 2-3 Arsenal, February 13, 2020.
5. West Ham 2-3 Reading, November 24, 2019.
4. Reading 3-3 Bristol City, November 17, 2019.
3. Arsenal 11-1 Bristol City, December 1, 2019.
