Brighton and Aston Villa picked up a point apiece as England boss Sarina Wiegman watched the goalless Women’s Super League draw at Broadfield Stadium.
Former England forward Rachel Daly almost gave the visitors a first-half lead but saw her fierce 25-yard strike bounce off the crossbar.
Michelle Agyemang, whose performances in the summer helped the Lionesses win Euro 2025, came close to a goal for Brighton, but her low strike took a deflection and hit the post.
Kiko Seike almost grabbed a winner for the Seagulls with a header, only for the ball to go just wide.
There was late drama at the other end, but Lynn Wilms’ free-kick for Villa rebounded off the crossbar as neither side could find a breakthrough.
Agyemang frustrated as Wiegman watches
All eyes were on 19-year-old Agyemang after she had impressed in the summer, scoring vital goals for England in their Euro 2025 quarter-final and semi-final wins over Sweden and then Italy.
Her performances in Switzerland saw her named Young Player of the Tournament before her club Arsenal decided to send her back to Brighton for a second season on loan to benefit her development.
Agyemang was closely marked at all times by a structured and disciplined Villa defence, although the teenager almost scored on the hour mark, only for her effort to take a deflection off Anna Patten and bounce off the right upright.
Operating as a centre-forward, she worked hard and had three shots during the match, although none counted as being on target.
Agyemang had earlier done well to create an opportunity for team-mate Rachel McLauchlan, only for visiting goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo to parry her strike.
But she was substituted on what proved to be a frustrating afternoon.
However, a draw was a fair result, with both sides hitting the woodwork and also having late opportunities.
One-cap England international Missy Bo-Kearns, another who would have wanted to impress Wiegman, volleyed off target for Villa in the 84th minute before Maisie Symonds fired just over for Brighton in stoppage time.
Brighton finished fifth in the WSL last season, one place above Villa, and both sides will be targeting at least similar finishes in this campaign.
