Kiko Seike piled more pressure on Leicester City, who remain rooted to the foot of the Women's Super League table after a 1-0 defeat to Brighton.
The Seagulls, who were winless in four league games, dominated throughout and got their reward just three minutes into the second half, leaving Leicester four points adrift of safety.
Janina Leitzig was called into early action to keep out Caitlin Hayes' header before rushing off her line to put off Seike, who sent her rushed effort wide.
Maisie Symonds also took aim from distance, and though a deflection took the pace off her shot, Leitzig was still forced to tip it away from goal.
Fran Kirby then cut Leicester's defence open with a throughball to Rosa Kafaji in the 48th minute. She drew Leitzig out and squared it to Seike, who was left with an easy finish into an empty net.
Leitzig kept out Seike's first-time shot from the edge of the box in the 74th minute, with Kirby seeing a late curler parried, and though Leicester improved after going behind, they could not find an equaliser.
It was the Foxes' seventh straight loss in the WSL, an even more damaging result after West Ham came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with London City Lionesses earlier on Sunday.
THREE MASSIVE POINTS ON THE ROAD! pic.twitter.com/Nt2gSMxjUi
— Brighton & Hove Albion Women (@BHAFCWomen) March 29, 2026
Data Debrief: Seike picks up where she left off
Seike was part of the Japan squad that won the Women's Asian Cup earlier this month, and she slotted back in as if she had never left.
She netted four goals at the tournament and netted her seventh of the WSL campaign at the King Power Stadium, leading the Brighton attack.
Seike had a game-high six shots – more than Leicester managed as a team (five) – and contributed 1.19 expected goals (xG) to Brighton's total of 1.83. Only Kafaji (nine) had more touches in the opposition box than the Seagulls' match-winner (eight).