Brighton Women’s coach Dario Vidosic has given a positive update, saying Maelis Mpome is “able to get up and move” despite being carried off on a stretcher with a serious injury.
Brighton Women’s manager Dario Vidosic says defender Maelis Mpome is “in good spirits” after suffering a concussion in the match against Arsenal and requiring serious treatment which left him out for more than 10 minutes.
Mpome was defending a cross when the ball hit him in the face and he left the field on a stretcher. The Brighton defender was first treated on the pitch and had a neck brace fitted before being transferred to a stretcher. At a worrying time, six medical workers assisted her off the pitch wearing oxygen masks and cylinders.
The interruption added 13 minutes to the end of the match, giving the home team a victory, but allowing the French defender to return home with his team.
Vidosic told Brighton’s website: “She is awake and has had a shower, which is very good news. She will continue to undergo tests, but that is OK because it is important for the player to come off the pitch as healthy as when she went on.”
Arsenal’s victory came in the 16th minute when Olivia Smith’s cross deflected into the net. With three wins in the opening six games, they moved up to fifth place in the WSL. On the other hand, the visitors are in 7th place with a difference of 4 points.
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Vidosic confessed that concerns over Mpome’s health could affect his team-mates as Brighton were unable to find the equalizer they needed. Marisa Ollislager’s own goal in the first half proved decisive, with Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar keeping the visitors at bay.
“It’s never good to see a teammate get hurt,” Vidosic said. “Fatigue may have played a role as well. We tried to push everyone as much as we could in a safe way, but the 10-minute stoppage may have disrupted the rhythm of the game.”
Arsenal manager Renee Sleggers said on display: “I thought we started well and spent a lot of time in the opposition half. We scored in the first half and I think the most important thing today was the three points.”
“Of course, we all know that the results have not been easy for us in the last few games. So today all we wanted was three points and we got the three points. I think there were some good moments in the game, there were moments where we could have done more and we want to do better, but the most important thing is that we won today and got the three points.”
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