Women's Super League: Lauren James scores late for Chelsea, big wins for Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City
Updated 16/02/2025 at 21:04 GMT
There were wins for Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City in the Women's Super League, while Chelsea dramatically beat Everton 2-1 with an injury-time winner courtesy of Lauren James. Chloe Kelly made her much anticipated return debut for Arsenal, while Ella Toone recorded her 100th appearance for Manchester United. Khadija Shaw scored twice as City thrashed Liverpool.
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There was plenty of drama across the Women's Super League on Sunday, with goals aplenty and a few scares along the way.
In the early kick-off, Manchester United got a dream start when Milla-Maj Majasaari’s clearance went straight to Grace Clinton, who drilled a pass to Elisabeth Terland, the Norwegian spinning and firing a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
But Crystal Palace held their nerve despite sustained pressure from Man Utd, and equalised against the run of play courtesy of Mille Gejl, who latched onto a superb pass from Lily Woodham in the 38th minute.
That made it 1-1 at half-time, a result Crystal Palace would no doubt have taken before the match, given they are rooted firmly to the bottom of the table, having not won in the WSL since October.
But Terland added a second for the home team in the 64th minute, an achingly slow clip past the keeper that just about dribbled over the line.
Clinton added the third in more emphatic fashion after 85 minutes, her header putting the game beyond doubt as Man Utd ran out 3-1 winners, making it six league wins on the bounce as they try to pressurise Chelsea ahead.
Arsenal rout Tottenham in derby
Alessia Russo looked to have opened the scoring in the north London derby with a deftly taken header, although replays showed the ball caught Clare Hunt on the way through – and the defender was attributed with the own goal.
Arsenal added a second before half-time to the delight of the home fans, a just reward given they had been pressing for some time.
Mariona Caldentey’s first shot from the edge of the box was blocked, but the ball bounced back to her, and she made no mistakes with the second shot, drilling it low past the diving keeper.
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Arsenal bagged their third after 51 minutes, Tottenham looking muddled in defence as Frida Maanum’s shot took a wicked deflection off the hapless Hunt again, taking it away from the outstretched arms of Lize Kop.
No deflection was needed for the fourth – Russo finishing off a brilliant end-to-end team break with a clinical finish, before the best of the lot went in just as the clock hit the 90-minute mark.
That was from Emily Fox, her first WSL goal – a beautiful, curled shot into the top corner from 25 yards out. It capped a fine performance in a 5-0 win for Arsenal, who are three points adrift of Manchester United in second.
The match also saw the reintroduction of Chloe Kelly as an Arsenal player, when the England star came on in the 61st minute to rapturous applause from the home fans.
Chelsea scrape past Everton
League leaders Chelsea kicked off at 14:00, with their rivals having already closed the gap in the table to four points.
But despite that, there was not much urgency in the first half, Chelsea nearly getting on the scoreboard early on with the ball nearly bouncing over the line from a corner, but there were no other chances of note.
The second half started more brightly for Everton, who scored courtesy of Kelly Gago. The Frenchwoman pounced after a pass from Toni Payne to give her side the lead, which did lead to an immediate response from Chelsea, who began to play with more urgency.
Mayra Ramirez got the expected equaliser for Chelsea on the 62-minute mark, before Aggie Beever-Jones came close with her header rebounding off the woodwork as Chelsea pushed for a winner.
But with the clock in the red, the score still read 1-1 until Lauren James rifled home a 25-yard winner to ensure Chelsea's lead in the table remains at seven points, as their unbeaten streak continues.
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Lauren James of Chelsea celebrates after scoring her team's second goal during a Barclays Women's Super League between Chelsea FC and Everton FC
Image credit: Getty Images
West Ham overcome Brighton
West Ham United overcame Brighton & Hove Albion with a 3-1 victory at the Chigwell Construction Stadium, leaving the visitors without a win in their last six WSL games.
West Ham got the first goal on the board after a mess in the box resulted in Shekiera Martinez scoring for The Hammers after just 11 minutes.
But that lead lasted two minutes – Nikita Parris getting Brighton level after she slotted home Rachel McLauchlan's low delivery to quickly restore parity.
However, that was as good as it got for The Seagulls, as the hosts retook the lead through Riko Ueki.
The Japan international intercepted Guro Bergsvand's ball across the defence and clinically dispatched her shot past Melina Loeck.
Rehanne Skinner's side wrapped up all three points from the penalty spot after McLauchlan was penalised for a challenge on Viviane Asseyi, who confidently stepped up to convert from 12 yards.
Leicester ease past Villa
Leicester City eased their relegation fears with a comfortable 3-0 win over fellow strugglers Aston Villa at the King Power Stadium.
Janice Cayman's brace and a goal from Julie Thibaud ensured The Foxes leapfrogged Villa in the table and up into 10th.
Cayman scored her first in the 29th minute when she latched onto Sophie Howard's lofted pass and fired past Sabrina D'Angelo.
She doubled the visitors' lead four minutes into the second half with a fine volley, before Thibaud rounded off the scoring a minute later from a close-range header.
Man City maintain top-three push after thrashing Liverpool
Manchester City maintained their push for a top-three finish with an emphatic 4-0 win over Liverpool at the Joie Stadium.
Khadija Shaw was the star of the show again, and continues to lead the way in the WSL top scorers standings after a brace today, along with a goal each for Jill Roord and Gracie Prior on her first league start.
Shaw broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when she took Mary Fowler's pass into her stride and fired a clinical finish into the far corner.
The Jamaica international added a second 12 minutes later, with Fowler the provider once again, as she teed up City's markswoman to blast a superb strike past Teagan Micah in the Liverpool goal.
Roord effectively ended the game as a contest just a minute shy of the hour mark when she beat Micah at the second attempt with a fine effort after her initial one was blocked.
The final goal of the game came through Prior, in what can arguably be described as a moment of fortune, after her cross-shot from the right flank flew past Micah.
With this result, Gareth Taylor's side moved within two points of third-placed Arsenal, while The Reds stay seventh.
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