Charlton suffer a narrow defeat against WSL outfit Brighton in this season's Continental Cup.
Wednesday evening's fixture was the final group stage game of this season's contiental Cup group stages, the Addicks went into proceedings sitting second in the group with Brighton topping the group.
Within the opening few minutes Charlton were awarded a free kick. Johnson rose above the crowd, connecting well with a powerful header but Seagulls keeper' Katie Startup, Brighton's goalkeeper, collected the ball, denying Charlton an early lead.
Charlton's Ayisi unleashed a fierce strike in the 19th minute, The ball left her boot with power, but it cruelly trickled wide of the post. The action continued to unfold as Sarri, in the 21st minute, unleashed a blistering shot from the left flank. But, Jess Gray stood firm and denied Brighton from taking the lead.
Just moments after Brighton’s Carabali leapt, soaring above the defenders, and nodded the ball beyond Gray's reach, giving the visitors the lead.
The visitors doubled their advantage in the 37th minute when Pinto put her fierce strike into the back of the net.
Soon after the interval Addick shot-stopper Gray was put under the test again, as multiple shots were seen on goal, but Gray stood firm once again and denied Brighton from adding to the score sheet.
The half continued to unfold with the seagulls applying much pressure to Charlton's net but the Addicks' backline continued to hold off Brighton from socring a third.
Karen Hills' side earned themselves a corner ball in the last moments of the game. Amid the chaos inside the box, the ball fell to the feet of former Brighton star Green, and the Addicks forward steered her strike into the back of the net to halve the host's deficit.
Despite the efforts of the home side, the final scoreline sees Charlton exit this season's Continental Cup competition finishing second in the group stages above WSL side West Ham and Championship side Birmingham.
Charlton: Gray, McKenna, Ross (Longhurst 64, N’Dow (Skeels 76), Johnson (Green 64), Ayisi, McGowan (Humphrey 75), Rutherford (Godfrey 64), Bashford, O’Rourke, Roe
Subs: Rogers, Addison
Goal: Green (90+)
Yellow: Rutherford (59)
Brighton: Startup, Thorisdottir (Bergsvand 46), Pattinson (Kullberg 46), Losada (Olme Zigiotti 46), Sarri, Lee, Carabali (Mcewen 71), Pinto, Symonds, Robinson (Bremer 46), Mengwen
Subs: Baggaley, Dent
Goal: Carabali (22) Pinto (37)
Attendance: 365
