Birmingham City Women 3-3 Crystal Palace Women: Hurtré Double and Amano Equaliser Earn Blues a Point
Birmingham City Women 3-3 Crystal Palace Women
Women’s Super League - Sunday 27 September 2026
Venue: St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park
Referee: Amy Fearn
Birmingham City Women produced a dramatic fightback to earn a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace Women at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.
The Blues appeared to be heading towards their first Women’s Super League victory of the season after Océane Hurtré scored twice inside the opening 33 minutes. However, Crystal Palace responded strongly after half-time and turned the match around.
Goals from Shanade Hopcroft, Bethany England and Lexi Lloyd-Smith put the visitors 3-2 ahead before substitute Suzu Amano came off the bench to rescue a point for Birmingham with a late equaliser.
The result leaves Birmingham still searching for their first league victory of the campaign, although recovering from 3-2 down demonstrated character after a difficult opening run.
Hurtré gives Birmingham City Women a perfect start
Birmingham City Women could hardly have wished for a better beginning to the match.
Just 40 seconds had been played when Océane Hurtré opened the scoring. The forward finished from inside the penalty area after being played in by Lee Geum-Min, giving Birmingham an early advantage.
The opening goal immediately gave the Blues an attacking platform, but Crystal Palace responded and began to create opportunities of their own.
Bethany England tested Birmingham goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley before Palace eventually found an equaliser in the 30th minute.
A free-kick from Shanade Hopcroft found its way into the Birmingham goal, bringing Crystal Palace level at 1-1.
Birmingham responded impressively.
Just three minutes later, Hurtré struck again to restore the home side’s lead. The forward produced a powerful finish from a difficult angle to make it 2-1.
The Blues went into half-time ahead and with a first WSL victory of the season firmly within sight.
Crystal Palace turn the game around after half-time
The second half developed into a completely different contest as Crystal Palace increased their attacking pressure.
Birmingham were increasingly forced to defend their advantage, with Palace looking for a way back into the match.
The visitors eventually found their second goal in the 70th minute.
Bethany England reacted quickest after an initial effort was saved, converting from close range to make the score 2-2.
Crystal Palace then completed their comeback just seven minutes later.
Lexi Lloyd-Smith raced through and calmly finished one-on-one, putting Palace 3-2 ahead with just over 10 minutes remaining.
For Birmingham, it was a significant test of character.
Having led twice during the match, the Blues suddenly found themselves behind and facing another frustrating result.
Amano rescues a point for Birmingham
Birmingham refused to give up and head coach Martin Ho turned to his bench, introducing Suzu Amano in the 81st minute in place of Lee Geum-Min.
The substitution would prove decisive.
With just six minutes remaining, Amano found the breakthrough Birmingham needed.
The Japan international received the ball inside the area before firing a right-footed effort into the bottom-left corner to make it 3-3.
The late equaliser sparked another Birmingham push as the Blues looked for a winner.
Océane Hurtré saw an effort saved, while Lily Crosthwaite also tested Crystal Palace goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.
In stoppage time, Chancelle Effa Effa came close to completing the comeback, but her effort from the centre of the box was saved.
The final whistle eventually brought an end to a remarkable six-goal encounter.
Birmingham City Women 3-3 Crystal Palace Women.
A point gained, but plenty to improve
There will be mixed feelings for Birmingham following the final whistle.
Having led 2-1 at half-time before surrendering their advantage and trailing 3-2, the Blues will know that this was an opportunity to claim their first WSL victory of the season.
At the same time, recovering from 3-2 down to claim a point demonstrated fighting spirit within the Birmingham squad.
The match statistics underline how open and competitive the contest was. Birmingham finished with 54% possession and registered 19 shots, including nine on target. Crystal Palace had 46% possession, 17 shots and six efforts on target.
Birmingham also won nine corners compared with Palace’s seven.
The full match statistics can be found on Sporting Life’s Birmingham City Women vs Crystal Palace Women match page.
For Hurtré, the afternoon was particularly memorable. Her two goals gave Birmingham an excellent first-half platform, while Amano’s late intervention ensured the Blues avoided defeat.
Birmingham City Women 3-3 Crystal Palace Women: Match Timeline
- 1’ - GOAL! Birmingham 1-0 Palace: Océane Hurtré fires Birmingham ahead after an assist from Lee Geum-Min.
- 30’ - GOAL! Birmingham 1-1 Palace: Shanade Hopcroft equalises with a free-kick.
- 33’ - GOAL! Birmingham 2-1 Palace: Hurtré scores her second of the afternoon with a powerful finish.
- Half-time: Birmingham City Women 2-1 Crystal Palace Women.
- 70’ - GOAL! Birmingham 2-2 Palace: Bethany England levels from close range.
- 77’ - GOAL! Birmingham 2-3 Palace: Lexi Lloyd-Smith puts Crystal Palace ahead.
- 81’ - SUBSTITUTION: Suzu Amano replaces Lee Geum-Min.
- 87’ - GOAL! Birmingham 3-3 Palace: Amano equalises with a right-footed finish, assisted by Lisa Naalsund.
- 90+2’ - CHANCE: Chancelle Effa Effa sees her late effort saved.
- 90+3’ - FULL-TIME: Birmingham City Women 3-3 Crystal Palace Women.
Birmingham City Women starting XI
Sophie Baggaley; Marie Levasseur, Millie Turner (c), Neve Herron, Rhianna McKenna; Asato Miyagawa, Lisa Naalsund, Lily Crosthwaite, Lee Geum-Min; Océane Hurtré, Veatriki Sarri.
Substitutes: Laura Thomas, Mollie Harris, Jessie Rastocle, Shannon Cooke, Wilma Leidhammar, Suzu Amano, Ruby Holloway, Chiara Cornet, Chancelle Effa Effa.
What the Birmingham City Women result means
The 3-3 draw gives Birmingham their second WSL point of the season after four league matches.
The Blues began the campaign with defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea, followed by a 2-2 home draw with Brighton before the dramatic encounter with Crystal Palace.
Birmingham will now look to build on the positives from this performance and convert their promising spells into a first league victory.
The Blues’ next WSL fixture sees them travel to Everton on Sunday 4 October, with kick-off scheduled for 2pm.
Final score
Birmingham City Women 3-3 Crystal Palace Women
Goals
- 1’ Océane Hurtré
- 30’ Shanade Hopcroft
- 33’ Océane Hurtré
- 70’ Bethany England
- 77’ Lexi Lloyd-Smith
- 87’ Suzu Amano
Player of the Match: Océane Hurtré
Two goals inside the opening 33 minutes made Hurtré Birmingham’s standout attacking threat. Her finishing gave the Blues a strong first-half position, while Suzu Amano’s late equaliser ensured that Birmingham took something from the match.
BCFC Fanzine verdict
A hugely entertaining six-goal encounter in which Birmingham City Women showed real character to recover from 3-2 down.
There were encouraging attacking moments throughout the match, particularly during a first half in which Hurtré scored twice. However, Birmingham will also know that conceding three second-half goals prevented them from taking all three points.
The late equaliser from Amano was an important moment, ensuring the Blues avoided defeat and collected a second WSL point of the season.
Birmingham now have an opportunity to build on the positive elements of the performance as they continue their adaptation to life back in the Women’s Super League.
Keep Right On!