WSL: Chelsea edge past Reading; Manchester derby stalemate & more | OneFootball

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Chloe Beresford·11 December 2022

WSL: Chelsea edge past Reading; Manchester derby stalemate & more

Article image:WSL: Chelsea edge past Reading; Manchester derby stalemate & more

There’s a full round of action in the WSL on Sunday, including an early kick-off for the Manchester derby.

Follow it all with us live here.


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Chelsea survive scare to beat Reading

Scorers: Kirby 16′, Čanković 29′, 33′; Troelsgaard 60′, Eikeland 62′

Chelsea survived a second-half scare to beat Reading 3-2 to go three points clear at the top of the table.

Fran Kirby gave the hosts the lead with an emphatic finish following a quick free-kick routine after a quarter of an hour of play.

The Blues looked as though they had wrapped up the game before half-time following Jelena Čanković’s quick-fire double.

Johanna Rytting saw her effort crash off the post, but the Serbian midfielder was on hand to tap home the rebound to double the advantage before Chelsea’s summer signing rose highest to head home Erin Cuthbert’s corner four minutes later.

Reading would make a game of it in the second period, though, with two goals in the space of two minutes setting up a frantic end to the encounter at Kingsmeadow as Sanne Troelsgaard’s effort was swiftly followed by Amalie Eikeland poking home.

In the end, Emma Hayes’ side would hold to secure the three points as Chelsea put daylight between themselves and second-place Arsenal.


Arsenal hit four against Aston Villa

Scorers: Hanson 6′; Corsie 26′ (OG), Miedema 30′, McCabe 62, Nobbs 84′

Arsenal came from behind to dismantle Aston Villa as skipper Katie McCabe scored her first goal of the season.

Aston Villa stormed to a shock lead as Kirsty Hanson rifled a powerful shot into the bottom right corner and beyond a helpless Manuela Zinsberger with the host’s first shot of the game.

A stroke of fortune saw the Gunners get level as Rachel Corsie inadvertently deflected the ball into her own net before Viviene Miedema put Arsenal ahead.

From a corner, Hannah Hampton – who may have felt as if she has been impeded – failed to get any distance on her clearance as Miedema reacted quickest to volley the visitors into the lead.

McCabe then made it three on the hour mark, slotting home from close range with the goal gaping after Hampton had parried Stephanie Catley’s cross into a dangerous area.

Jordan Nobbs added gloss to the result in the 84th minute with a sweeping effort after a powerful run into the box by Caitlin Foord as Arsenal secured a 4-1 win.


West Ham beat Spurs in London derby

Scorers: Brynjarsdottir 49, Cissoko 83′

West Ham showed their class in front of goal as they struck twice in the second half to beat Tottenham.

It was north v east London on Sunday as Spurs hosted West Ham with the winner staying within touching distance of the WSL’s top four.

It was all Tottenham in the first half though as they enjoyed over 60 per cent of possession but struggled to turn that monopoly of the ball into clear-cut chances.

But the Hammers came flying out of the blocks in the second half and took the lead on 49 minutes through Dagny Brynjarsdottir.

The visitors then doubled their lead to confirm the win later on thanks to Hawa Cissoko’s finish.


Honours even in thrilling Manchester derby

Scorers: Galton 27′; Coombs 58′

Manchester City registered the second-highest WSL crowd ever as 44,259 people watched a 1-1 draw play out at the Etihad stadium.

After the opening exchanges between the two sides saw no major chances, Manchester United sprung into life with a superb spell of passing which ended in Ella Toone finding Leah Galton in the box, and the forward took her chance perfectly to open the scoring.

Into the second half and just when it looked like the away side were in control, Manchester City were back in it as Chloe Kelly fired a dangerous cross into the box and an unmarked Laura Coombs headed home.

The momentum of the game had changed as City started to dominate, Kelly going close shortly after the goal when what looked like a cross almost went in as it shaved the far post.

With the game heading for the final ten minutes, Mary Earps made an excellent save to deny Bunny Shaw from putting the home side ahead with a bullet header.

Almost immediately afterwards, Galton picked out Martha Thomas and her header forced Ellie Roebuck to made a carbon copy of the save from Earps.

The chances kept coming as neither side wanted to settle for a point, Alex Greenwood making a match saving tackle from Lucía García in the dying seconds of the game.


Brighton v Everton and Liverpool v Leicester were postponed due to frozen pitches and will be rescheduled in due course.