🏆 WSL Opening Day: Chelsea beat Spurs; Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool win | OneFootball

All 12 Women’s Super League sides were in action on the opening day of a season that could be the most exciting yet.

Here’s what’s happened.

No Kerr, no problem for Chelsea as the pursuit of five in a row begins

Scorers: Fishel 28′, James 51′; Thomas 76′

Looking for their fifth consecutive WSL title, Chelsea struggled to get going against a new-look but determined Spurs outfit.

In the 28th minute, they did break the deadlock and it was courtesy of a debut goal from Mia Fishel, the US forward who joined in the summer from Tigres.

A lovely touch and cross from Niamh Charles set up Fishel to power home a header. Sam Kerr’s absence being made a bit easier.

The champions doubled their lead six minutes into the second half. More strong work from Fishel saw Guro Reiten think she’d scored but it was not clear if the ball had crossed the line.

It mattered little as Reiten recycled the ball out and put a lovely cross for Lauren James, who made no mistake from close range.

A game that seemed over was kicked back into life when Martha Thomas pounced to fire home after Zećira Mušović spilled Grace Clinton’s shot. Spurs’ performance had warranted a goal.

Melanie Leupolz almost scored a wonderful volley and Jelena Cankovic had a goal disallowed for offside but the Blues didn’t need a third in the end.

Roord stars as City cruise to victory at West Ham

Scorers: Hemp 48′, Roord 55′

City dominated the ball from the outset with over 70% possession and tested Mackenzie Arnold in the West Ham goal on several occasions in the first chance.

Debutant and Dutch superstar Jill Roord should have done better but her attempted lob over the Australian keeper sailed over the bar.

City found the breakthrough just three minutes after the break through Lauren Hemp. The England forward curled home a beauty into the top corner, giving Arnold no chance in the process.

From here, it was all-action with Arnold at the heart of it, saving a penalty from Chloe Kelly in the 51st minute.

However, only four minutes later it was 2-0, Roord making no mistake when given a second chance at a debut goal.

The former Wolfsburg, Arsenal and Bayern Munich player cut through the box with a sublime stepover before coolly slotting the ball into the bottom left corner.

City went down to 10 women in the 71st minute when Leila Ouahabi’s strong challenge on Emma Harries was deemed worthy of a red card.

Liverpool shock Arsenal and earn a famous win

Scorers: Taylor 47′

In front of a WSL record attendance of 54,155 at the Emirates Stadium, it was the home side who dictated much of the play in the first half with over 60% of the ball and a stunning 12 corners.

Racheal Laws in the Liverpool net denied them on three occasions to keep her side alive, who did look dangerous on the counter attack.

Just two minutes after the break, the Reds broke the deadlock through Miri Taylor, who slotted past Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger after a cross came her way.

The goal stung Arsenal and they lost their way for a bit before going on the hunt for an equaliser, Cloé Lacasse, Jen Beattie and Katie McCabe all going close.

The Gunners ran out of both time and ideas despite over 10 minutes of injury time.

A famous away day for Liverpool and another disappointment for Arsenal after their Champions League qualifying round exit.

United grab a late comeback win against 10-women Villa

Scorers: Daly 76′; García 79′, Williams 90+2′

In a frenetic first half of action, Villa perhaps had the best chance but Alisha Lehmann couldn’t keep her shot down from just inside the box.

United had the majority of the possession and more shots but few on target as they struggled to find the breakthrough.

The game sprang into life in the final quarter with the sending off of Villa’s Kirsty Hanson for a reckless challenge on Hayley Ladd.

It didn’t slow down the home side, however, as Rachel Daly slotted past her England teammate Mary Earps just minutes later. Daly had already clipped the crossbar earlier in the game but made no mistake when given another chance.

United equalised just three minutes later when Lucía García rifled home from close range after a goalmouth scramble following a corner.

For the remainder of the game, it was United pushing for the win and the 10-women Villa hoping to hold out.

Their resistance was broken two minutes into injury time via Rachel Williams, the veteran striker coming off the bench to grab a massive win for her side.

Leicester run riot in Bristol

Scorers: Jones 33′, Thestrup 85′; Palmer 45+2′, O’Brien 49′, Petermann 52′, Rantala83′

Despite having much less of the ball, it was the home side who opened the scoring and what a goal it was.

Carrie Jones came back to haunt the club she played for on loan last year with a wonderful mazy run past several defenders before slotting past Janina Leitzig with the aid of a deflection.

After a former Fox opened the scoring, it was the turn of an ex-Bristol player to level the scoring. After Amy Rodgers looked to have missed a glorious chance, the ball fell to Aimee Palmer who smashed home from 20 yards.

Leicester turned the screw in the opening stages of the second half, scoring twice in quick succession. Shannon O’Brien was first up, finishing brilliantly from the edge of the box and past Fran Bentley.

Three minutes later, and it was Lena Petermann with a very different goal, thundering home a header from Jutta Rantala’s corner.

Rantala got in on the act in the 83rd minute, sweeping home to cap off a brilliant debut for Leicester’s summer signing.

Amalie Thestrup did pull one back for Bristol City two minutes later from the penalty spot but it was all too late.

Terland at the double as the the Seagulls’ season takes flight

Scorers: Finnigan 65′; Terland 3′, 14′

It took just three minutes for Brighton to strike and it was Elisabeth Terland who grabbed the first of the new Super League season.

It couldn’t have been an easier finish for her either, heading home from close range after Katie Robinson’s shot was tipped onto the bar by Everton keeper Emily Ramsey. Right place, right time – the mark of any top striker.

It was the same combination for Terland’s second with Robinson’s expert through ball being finished in fine fashion by the Norwegian forward.

Everton got themselves back in the contest in the 65th minute when Megan Finnigan fired home from close range after a Hanna Bennison corner.

The remainder of the game saw the home side push for an equaliser but Brighton held out for an impressive opening day win.