Women's Super League round-up: Crystal Palace relegated after West Ham United drubbing, Manchester City edge out Leicester City
Updated 27/04/2025 at 17:33 GMT+1
The Women's Championship awaits for Crystal Palace after they were heavily beaten by a clinical West Ham side on Sunday afternoon, confirming relegation for The Eagles with two games of the season to play. Shekiera Martinez scored four goals in a masterclass of finishing. Elsewhere, Manchester kept their UEFA Women's Champions League hopes alive with a 1-0 win away at Leicester City.
Shekiera Martinez of West Ham United celebrates with Verena Hanshaw after scoring to make it 1-0 during the Barclays Women's Super League match between Crystal Palace and West Ham United on April 27, 2025 in Sutton, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Crystal Palace have been relegated from the Women's Super League after a 7-1 loss to West Ham at Gander Green Lane.
A 15th defeat of the season left Leif Smerud's side seven points adrift at the bottom of the table with just two games to play.
The must-win clash always looked like being a difficult one for the hosts, who began on the back foot and fell behind after 18 minutes when Shekiera Martinez met a cross to power home a header.
Palace attempted to respond and came close on a couple of occasions, but West Ham's lead was doubled just before half-time. Martinez got her second of the game, finding space on the right of the box before cutting inside and firing her finish into the top corner.
And moments later, Martinez completed a superb first-half hat-trick. Seraina Piubel's through ball sent the striker clean through, and she rounded goalkeeper Shae Yanez before tapping home.
Palace were all but down with 45 minutes still to play, though there was still pride to play for. Unfortunately for The Eagles, things got worse as West Ham moved through the gears.
The irrepressible Martinez scored her fourth just after the hour mark, picked out by Viviane Asseyi and curling a shot past Yanez.
A few minutes later, it was five as Asseyi got her name on the scoresheet with a long-range stunner, taking aim from a seemingly impossible distance and guiding a shot over the stretching Yanez.
There was a consolation goal for the beleaguered hosts, who were awarded a penalty when Indiah-Paige Riley was brought down in the box. Katie Stengel stepped up and converted to muted cheers.
But West Ham were not finished at the other end. Emma Harries scored with a powerful strike and then converted from close range for her second and The Hammers' seventh on an ignominious afternoon for Palace.
- Eze and Sarr fire Crystal Palace to FA Cup final
- Ipswich relegated after Newcastle defeat, Wolves beat Leicester, Brighton down West Ham
Park keeps City's Champions League hopes alive
Manchester City are just about alive and kicking in the race for UEFA Women's Champions League qualification, after Jess Park's second-half strike secured a hard-earned 1-0 win away at Leicester City.
The result sees Nick Cushing's side close the gap between themselves and third-place Manchester United to four points.
They will be relying on a favour from reigning champions Chelsea on Wednesday, as a win for Marc Skinner's side against the table-topping Blues on Wednesday will guarantee The Red Devils a top-three finish.
The Foxes came into this clash on a high, knowing their WSL safety had been confirmed prior to kick-off, after table-propping Crystal Palace were thrashed 7-1 by West Ham United.
The visitors struggled to break down their resolute hosts, as Kerstin Casparij, Laura Coombs and Lily Murphy tried their luck to no avail.
Khiara Keating denied Hannah Cain from giving Leicester a shock lead in a one-on-one chance, before Park entered the fray.
Substitute Lauren Hemp laid the ball on a plate for Park to fire home at the far post ahead of their next match - a Manchester derby at Old Trafford on May 4.
Parris haunts former club Everton
Nikita Parris scored in stoppage time against former club Everton to secure Brighton a dramatic 3-2 win at Walton Hall Park.
The Seagulls twice recovered from a goal down to take all three points away from Merseyside and move Dario Vidosic's side up to fifth.
Meanwhile, Brian Sorensen's side remain languished in eighth following their 10th defeat of the season.
The Toffees struck first in the ninth minute when Sara Holmgaard's volley looped over Melina Loeck.
Michelle Agyemang was in the right place at the right time to restore parity after sliding home from Kike Seike's cross, but the hosts moved back in front just two minutes later.
Katja Snoeijs clinically dispatched a close-range effort into the bottom corner from Heather Payne's precise delivery from the right-hand side.
However, this absorbing contest took another twist when two England Lionesses combined.
Parris laid the ball on a plate for Fran Kirby to provide a delightful finish with the outside of her right foot just a minute before half-time.
A much less eventful second half ensued, but there was still time for some late drama when Parris unleashed a clinical finish into the far corner after brilliantly taking Rachel McLauchlan's through ball into her stride.
Liverpool held by Spurs in entertaining draw
Liverpool were unable to further establish their grip on fifth place after playing out a 2-2 draw with Tottenham at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Sophie Roman Haug gave the hosts the lead 12 minutes in, pouncing on a loose ball in the box and finishing sharply.
But Spurs responded well, levelling after 25 minutes when an attempted clearance from Grace Fisk hit her own crossbar, getting a touch off goalkeeper Rachael Laws on its way over the line and going down as an own goal.
A few minutes later, Clare Hunt drifted into the box and converted Maite Oroz's cross to put Spurs in front at half-time.
Roman Haug brought Liverpool level again with a powerful header just after the break and the home side searched for a winner as the second half progressed.
Jenna Clark went close with a header late on, while Martha Thomas guided an effort just wide at the other end, but the points were shared on Merseyside.
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