Women's Super League: Chelsea move three clear at top with Everton victory, West Ham stun Arsenal
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Updated 04/02/2024 at 22:14 GMT
Chelsea end the weekend three points clear at the top of the Women's Super League after a 3-0 win over Everton, thanks to two Guro Reiten's penalties and an Erin Cuthbert strike. Manchester City beat Leicester City 2-0 to briefly go top, while Arsenal were stunned in a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United in Leah Williamson's first start since recovering from an ACL injury.
KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Guro Reiten of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's second goal from the penalty-spot during the Barclays Women's Super League match between Chelsea FC and Everton FC at Kingsmeadow on Feb
Image credit: Getty Images
Chelsea moved three points clear at the top of the Women's Super League with a 3-0 win over Everton at Kingsmeadow.
Two Guro Reiten penalties and a goal from Erin Cuthbert sent the Blues back to the top of the table, after Manchester City briefly reached the summit with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City earlier on Sunday.
The Blues rode their luck following two contentious penalty decisions, as Clare Wheeler was penalised for challenges on Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and record signing Mayra Ramirez respectively.
Wheeler looked to have fairly intercepted Rytting Kaneryd, while there appeared to be very little contact on Ramirez for the second penalty.
However, there was nothing fortunate about Cuthbert's finish, as the Chelsea skipper ended a wonderful free-flowing move with a clinical strike in the 83rd minute.
Emma Hayes’ side have now amassed 34 points from their 13 WSL games, while The Toffees are 10th following this defeat with 11 points from the same number of matches.
Man City edge past Leicester
Manchester City moved top of the Women's Super League, albeit briefly, following a 2-0 win over Leicester City.
Gareth Taylor's side left it late against the plucky Foxes, but two goals in the final 10 minutes from Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly sealed all three points.
After a largely subdued first half, City upped the intensity after the break, and thought they had broken the deadlock when Khadija Shaw slotted home from close-range, but the Jamaican's effort was ruled out for offside.
However, the deadlock was broken in emphatic fashion thanks to Hemp's brilliant acrobatic finish from Shaw's cross in the 82nd minute.
The points were sealed three minutes later thanks to Kelly, whose corner flew straight into the top corner to claim three crucial points against a Leicester side that sits seventh in the table following this defeat.
West Ham stun Arsenal
Arsenal lost ground in the title race, as West Ham recovered from a goal down to claim a memorable 2-1 win at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.
The Gunners took a deserved 43rd minute lead when Alessia Russo headed the ball into an empty net, after Hammers shot-stopper Mackenzie Arnold misjudged an incoming corner, and saw the ball take a nick off Kirsty Smith before finding its way to the England forward.
West Ham were given a route back into the contest five minutes after the re-start, as Steph Catley was penalised for a challenge on Riko Ueki in the box.
Viviane Asseyi dispatched the subsequent penalty to wipe out Arsenal's advantage, before an element of luck set The Hammers on their way to a famous win.
Manuela Zinsberger's attempted clearance from a free-kick found its way to Hawa Cissoko, who provided a cool finish with the Arsenal shot-stopper out of her goal.
Arsenal remain third, but could be six points adrift off the top if Chelsea beat Everton later on Sunday.
Meanwhile, this third win of the season for West Ham lifts the Hammers up to ninth - five points clear of bottom club Bristol City.
Parris brace sees United beat Brighton
A Nikita Parris brace condemned Mikey Harris to defeat in his first match in interim charge of Brighton & Hove Albion, as the Seagulls were beaten 2-0 by Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village.
Harris was in the dugout for the first time following the surprise sacking of Melissa Phillips on Thursday, but could not prevent the Seagulls from succumbing to back-to-back league defeats.
Parris netted her first goal in the ninth minute when Geyse raced beyond Poppy Pattinson and teed up the England forward with a right-footed strike to break the deadlock.
A second goal came four minutes past the hour mark, as Geyse teed up Parris again to fire a low strike past Sophie Baggaley into the far corner.
The result means Brighton drop to 11th in the table, while United reignited their Champions League aspirations by cutting the deficit between themselves and third-placed Arsenal to four points.
Liverpool leave it late to draw with Tottenham
Marie Hobinger's stoppage-time equaliser rescued Liverpool a point in a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Prenton Park.
There was little to choose between the two sides in this mid-table clash, but it looked like the visitors would be taking all three points back to North London thanks to Celin Bizet.
Bizet opened the scoring with an unconventional finish which came off her thigh with just under 20 minutes remaining, before Hobinger struck.
She rifled in a superb strike from the edge of the box to earn Matt Beard's side a share of the spoils.
Liverpool and Spurs sit fifth and sixth in the table with 19 points from 13 games respectively, separated only by goal difference.
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