Barclays WSL
Chelsea Storm to Victory Over 10-Player West Ham
Chelsea maintained their perfect start to the Women’s Super League season with a commanding 4-0 win over
West Ham United at home, scoring three goals in a blistering seven-minute spell. Aggie Beever-Jones set the
tone in the eighth minute, curling a superb free-kick into the top corner for her fourth goal in four league games.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd doubled the lead four minutes later, tapping in Wieke Kaptein’s low cross. Erin Cuthbert sealed the early onslaught in the 15th minute with a stunning 20-yard strike that left Kinga Szemik stranded.
West Ham’s woes deepened when Ines Belloumou, on her first start, received a straight red card in the 23rd minute for pulling Alyssa Thompson’s hair. Chelsea capitalised on their numerical advantage, with Kaptein stabbing home Catarina Macario’s cross in the 70th minute to complete the rout. The result sends Chelsea back to the top of the WSL, two points clear of Manchester United, while West Ham remain pointless at the foot of the table.
Manchester United Cruise Past Winless Liverpool
Manchester United continued their strong start to the WSL campaign with a 2-0 victory over Liverpool at St Helens Stadium. Marc Skinner’s side struck early, with Hinata Miyazawa smashing home a Jess Park cross in the fourth minute past debutant goalkeeper Rafaela Borggrafe. Ella Toone doubled the lead in first half stoppage time, calmly finishing after Elisabeth Terland’s selfless pass, moments after Phallon Tullis-Joyce denied Ceri Holland.
Liverpool squandered second half chances, with Cornelia Kapocs firing wide and Tullis-Joyce thwarting Mia Enderby. United’s dominance secured them 10 points from four games, keeping them second in the table, while Liverpool, still winless, sit just above the bottom on goal difference.
Manchester City Overpower London City Lionesses
Manchester City secured a 4-1 victory over London City Lionesses, with Khadija Shaw’s second half brace from the penalty spot sealing the win. Vivianne Miedema opened the scoring, heading in Kerstin Casparij’s cross, before Laura Blindkilde Brown’s low drive made it 2-0. London City responded through Nikita Parris, who capitalised on lax defending to find the corner of the net against her former club. Parris and Isobel Goodwin went close before half time, but City took control after the break. Shaw converted penalties for a handball by Saki Kumagai and a foul by Wassa Sangare, ensuring City’s third win in four matches keeps them firmly in the early running.
Tottenham Edge Leicester in Tight Encounter
Tottenham Hotspur returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. Cathinka Tandberg opened the scoring after capitalising on Olivia McLoughlin’s error, and Olivia Holdt doubled the lead six minutes later with a sublime chip over Janina Leitzig. Leicester pulled one back before half time through Sam Tierney’s tap in, but Spurs held firm despite late pressure. The win lifts Tottenham to fourth, while Leicester remain eighth.
Late Drama Denies Arsenal Victory Against Villa
Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on Saturday after Lucy Parker’s 95th minute equaliser. The Gunners took the lead when Mariona Caldentey intercepted Missy Bo Kearns’ errant pass, setting up Frida Maanum to fire home. Maanum missed a golden chance to double the lead, sliding wide from close range. Arsenal’s intensity waned after the break, allowing Villa to snatch a point through Parker’s scrambled effort from a corner, keeping up their decent record against the Gunners in recent seasons. Arsenal missed the chance to go top overnight, while Villa remain winless in tenth with two points.
Brighton Edge Everton with Agyemang’s Strike
Brighton & Hove Albion secured a 1-0 win over Everton, with Michelle Agyemang’s first WSL goal of the season proving decisive. The 19-year-old England international, on loan from Arsenal, bundled home after Fran Kirby’s brilliant work in the 26th minute. Despite dominating the first half, Brighton struggled with their final ball, while Everton’s Rosa van Gool squandered an early chance. Kiko Seike and Kirby missed opportunities to extend the lead, but Brighton held firm against late Everton pressure to claim back-to-back league wins.
Leading goalscorers:
4 - Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea);
4 - Melvine Malard (Manchester United);
3 - Frida Maanum (Arsenal);
3 - Khadija Shaw (Manchester City);
3 - Ornella Vignola (Everton);
2 - Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal);
2 - Isobel Goodwin (London City Lionesses);
2 - Olivia Holdt (Tottenham Hotspur);
2 - Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City);
2 - Nikita Parris (London City Lionesses);
2 - Alessia Russo (Arsenal);
2 - Cathinka Tandberg (Tottenham Hotspur);
2 - Ella Toone (Manchester United);
(League goals only)
