Brighton hosted Charlton Athletic in the WSL Cup group stage on Wednesday evening and saw out a comfortable 4-0 victory. The result extends Brighton's momentum after a mixed run of form, while Charlton's struggles continue to mount.
By then the hosts had already established control. They moved the ball with ease, creating chances wherever Charlton tried to respond. The visitors simply could not find their rhythm against a side that seemed to know exactly where to find space.
And here's the thing — the statistics tell the full story without needing detail. Brighton registered 128 attacks compared to Charlton's 64, while possession sat at 63 percent for the home side against 37 for the visitors. Ten shots on target against two tells you everything about who dominated.
To be fair, Charlton were not entirely passive. They managed nine free kicks and twelve goal kicks, indicating they at least got the ball into their own third. But nine free kicks also means Brighton caught them often when advancing, and the lack of corners — zero for Charlton — speaks volumes about the final third.
Brighton's recent form had shown inconsistency. A 1-1 draw with Aston Villa last weekend followed a 2-2 with Birmingham, and before that a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal. This performance suggests that period of uncertainty is settling into something more predictable.
Charlton's situation looks starker. They lost 4-1 to London City Lionesses on Monday, then 1-0 at Everton, and before that a 4-0 defeat away to Liverpool. Three losses in a row where they have conceded eleven goals does not inspire confidence in the group stage.
The goal difference now shifts in Brighton's favour within the group. Four clear goals is not just three points — it is a statement that they intend to progress further than simply surviving the group stage.
