Barclays WSL
Manchester City strengthened their grip at the top of the Barclays Women’s Super League with a
commanding 3-0 derby victory over Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.
Andree Jeglertz’s side were ruthless in the first half, racing into a three-goal lead while United failed to muster a single shot on target. Rebecca Knaak broke the deadlock in the 26th minute, nodding home from Lauren Hemp’s corner after Khadija Shaw had headed the ball back across goal. Shaw then turned finisher two minutes before the break, sliding in Kerstin Casparij’s low cross. The pick of the goals arrived on the stroke of half time as Hemp, starting her first match since September, hammered an unstoppable drive into the top corner to complete a dominant 45 minutes.
Chelsea’s title challenge suffered a setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom placed Liverpool at St Helens Stadium. Alyssa Thompson gave the champions a dream start, cutting inside and curling a superb effort into the far corner after nine minutes. Liverpool, still searching for their first league win, responded brilliantly when Lily Woodham released Beata Olsson, who outpaced Millie Bright and calmly slotted past the goalkeeper to equalise in the 33rd minute. Aggie Beever-Jones thought she had restored Chelsea’s lead in the second half only to be denied by the offside flag, before seeing another effort drift narrowly wide. The draw extends Chelsea’s unbeaten WSL run to a record 34 matches, but the result leaves them three points behind leaders Manchester City.
Arsenal were frustrated for a second consecutive league match as Tottenham Hotspur produced a resilient defensive display to earn a goalless draw at Brisbane Road in the North London derby. Despite heavy second half pressure and lengthy spells of possession, Arsenal rarely troubled goalkeeper Lize Kop. Substitute Olivia Smith injected energy from the right flank and created the Gunners’ best openings, but Spurs – impressive both in and out of possession under new manager Martin Ho – held firm for a valuable point. The result leaves Arsenal and Tottenham level on 16 points in fourth and fifth respectively, with Spurs able to celebrate another positive result in their strong start to the campaign.
London City Lionesses consolidated in the top half of the table with a clinical 3-1 away victory over Aston Villa, courtesy of a Saki Kumagai double. The Japanese international headed the visitors in front from an early corner, only for a rare error from goalkeeper Elene Lete – who allowed Kirsty Hanson’s low drive to slip through her legs – to gift Villa an equaliser. London City regained control after the break as Isobel Goodwin smashed home from close range six minutes into the second half. Kumagai then rose highest once more to head in another corner and seal all three points for the Lionesses, their fifth league win of the season.
Brighton & Hove Albion secured their first WSL victory since September with a convincing 4-1 triumph over Leicester City at the American Express Stadium. Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie proved the hero early on, producing a string of outstanding saves to deny Jutta Rantala and Shannon O’Brien as Leicester threatened to run away with the game. The Seagulls made them pay in the 27th minute when Kiko Seike released Madison Haley, who deftly lifted the ball over the advancing Janina Leitzig. Maëlys Mpome doubled the lead two minutes after the restart following a swift counter-attack. O’Brien pulled one back in the 75th minute, but late strikes from Marisa Olislagers and Seike – the latter netting on the rebound – capped a fine afternoon for Brighton.
West Ham United claimed their first league win of the season with a confident 3-1 victory over Everton at the Chigwell Construction Stadium. Anouk Denton’s miscued cross somehow looped over Emily Ramsey to open the scoring, before Amber Tysiak headed home Vivianne Asseyi’s corner to make it 2-0. Everton’s defensive frailty was exposed again when they were caught playing out from the back, allowing Riko Ueki to tee up the unmarked Shekiera Martinez for a simple finish. Verena Hanshaw struck the post and West Ham twice had efforts cleared off the line as they threatened further damage. Katja Snoeijs grabbed a late consolation from a corner, but the Hammers comfortably moved two points clear of the relegation zone.
Leading goalscorers:
6 - Khadija Shaw (Manchester City);
5 - Melvine Malard (Manchester United);
4 - Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea);
4 - Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal);
4 - Jess Park (Manchester United);
4 - Alessia Russo (Arsenal);
4 - Cathinka Tandberg (Tottenham Hotspur);
4 - Ornella Vignola (Everton);
(League goals only)
