WSL 25/26 GW7: Goals return as top five break away and pressure mounts at the bottom

Chelsea extended their ridiculous WSL unbeaten run to 32 league matches with a controlled 2–0 win over top-flight newcomers London City Lionesses.

The hosts almost took the lead inside 90 seconds after a poor pass from Sangare went straight to Erin Cuthbert, who drove into the box and fired past the keeper – only for Sangare to get back and clear off the line to make up for her mistake.

The breakthrough came just four minutes later. Sandy Baltimore turning the London City backline in knots before whipping a low cross to the far post where Ellie Carpenter arrived unmarked to finish from close range.

London City didn’t fold and had chances to equalise in the first-half. Emma Goodwin should have done exactly that just before half-time after a mix-up between Hampton and Nüsken. The ball dropped for her 14 yards out, unmarked – but she fired over. You simply have to do better at this level. They were denied again minutes later when Sangare looked to have been brought down by Nüsken in the box, but penalty appeals were waved away.

Chelsea controlled most of the second-half but struggled to break down a well-organised London City defence. It looked like the game would drift to a narrow 1–0 until the fourth minute of stoppage time, when substitute Sam Kerr stepped up with a moment of real class.

A long ball forward was headed clear by the City keeper, but Poppy Pattinson’s heavy touch gave Kerr a chance. Still with plenty to do, she shifted the ball and slotted home to wrap up the win.

Chelsea stay top – one point clear – and head into a huge clash with Arsenal next weekend. They weren’t at their most fluid here, but still found a way.

London City can take real encouragement from their performance. They showed discipline, created chances, and looked more assured than earlier in the season. Spurs at home is up next.

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Manchester City kept the pressure on league-leaders Chelsea with a narrow but routine 1–0 win over West Ham United.

There were 23 attempts at goal across the match, but only two hit the target – a stat that summed up a frustrating afternoon in front of goal for both sides.

The winner came on 26 minutes. Vivianne Miedema intercepted a loose pass just inside her own half, drove forward and released Aoba Fujino with a perfectly weighted lay-off. The Japanese forward took a touch before finishing calmly inside the box – City’s only shot on target from 18 attempts.

City controlled the game from that point on and should have extended their lead. Kerstin Casparij hit the bar with a close-range header, and several goalmouth scrambles kept West Ham clinging on. But despite the pressure, the second goal never arrived – a rare lack of precision in the final third from a City side that had scored 17 goals in their opening six games.

Still, the win makes it six in a row for City since their opening-day defeat to Chelsea – form that keeps them firmly in the title race heading into November. They face Everton away next.

For West Ham, the numbers make grim reading. Seven games, seven defeats, and just two goals scored. They remain rooted to the bottom of the table, still searching for their first point of the season. That may come when they host fellow strugglers Leicester City at home next weekend.

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Aston Villa and Everton shared the points in one of the most dramatic matches of the WSL season so far, as a 94th-minute equaliser salvaged a point for the visitors.

Everton started the brighter of the two and took the lead in the 11th minute. A poor clearance dropped to Martina Fernández, who played a sharp through ball into Kelly Gago. The forward took one touch before finishing calmly past Sabrina D’Angelo to give Everton the early advantage.

The Toffees held onto their lead until the eighth minute of first-half stoppage time. Noelle Maritz delivered a clever looping cross to the far post, where Georgia Mullett – unmarked – bundled it home off her knee for her first Villa goal. Game on.

Momentum shifted after the break. Villa went ahead just before the hour mark when Mullett turned provider, cutting the ball across for Kirsty Hanson to slide in and convert for 2–1.

But Everton responded just 11 minutes later. Substitute Hikaru Kitagawa made an instant impact, curling a first-time effort from the edge of the box into the far corner to level the match at 2–2.

Four minutes later, a seemingly harmless cross from Jessy Ewomazino Salmon was turned into her own net by Ruby Mace. The defender’s outstretched boot redirected the ball, which appeared to be heading safely into Leat’s hands, giving Villa a 3–2 lead.

Still, Everton weren’t done. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Gago reacted quickest to her own header inside the box. Completely unmarked, she smashed home her second of the afternoon to rescue a dramatic point.

The result does little to lift either side. Villa sit 8th, Everton 9th, both struggling for consistency. Everton are still without a win since the opening weekend but will take heart from the fightback. They host in-form Manchester City next.

For Villa, it’s another lead lost and more points dropped. They face a tough trip to Manchester United in Gameweek 8.

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Manchester United’s unbeaten start to the season continued with a slightly nervy 3–2 win over Brighton on the south coast.

United dominated the first-half and finally broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time. The ball fell kindly to Elisabeth Terland, who bizarrely found herself completely unmarked 12 yards out. She made no mistake, firing low into the bottom corner. Never in doubt.

The second goal came just before the hour mark. An excellent one-two between Ella Toone and Jess Park was finished superbly by Park – her fourth league goal of the season – curling in from the edge of the box. Park was a threat throughout and central to United’s best moments.

Brighton responded with intent. Kiko Seike smashed against the post in the 63rd minute, before Fran Kirby – Brighton’s best player on the day – pulled one back in the 68th. Marisa Olislagers split the defence with a perfect through ball, and Kirby slotted confidently past Tullis-Joyce to make it 2–1.

United restored control. Jess Park again provided the key moment, cutting the ball back from the right to Lisa Naalsund, who finished confidently to make it 3–1 in the 89th minute.

Brighton, to their credit, refused to go down without a fight. Seike scored two minutes into stoppage time with a beautiful chipped finish to make it 3–2 – but it was too little, too late for the Seagulls.

Manchester United stay firmly in the title race with another important win. They sit third, two points behind leaders Chelsea, and host Aston Villa next.

For Brighton, it’s now three straight losses. There were positives in attack, especially from Kirby and Seike, but defensive gaps proved costly. They head to Liverpool next.

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Arsenal continued their resurgence with a convincing 4–1 away win against Leicester City, heading into next weekend’s clash with Chelsea full of confidence.

The visitors struck early. In the 7th minute, Alessia Russo was quickest to react after a low cross ricocheted inside the box, smashing home her third league goal of the season from close range.

It was one-way traffic for the rest of the first-half. On 32 minutes, Russo’s dangerous cross was turned in by Sari Kees. Four minutes later, Blackstenius put the game to bed with a composed finish after being played through by Beth Mead.

Leicester offered little in response. Their best chance fell to Noémie Mouchon before she eventually did pull one back – and in style. Picking up the ball just inside her own half, Mouchon charged forward and beat two defenders before finishing superbly from 12 yards. A goal that gave Leicester something to show for their efforts.

But Arsenal responded almost immediately. Just a minute after Mouchon’s strike, Blackstenius grabbed her second of the game with a rifled shot into the top corner, this time after being slid through by Chloe Kelly.

Arsenal make it three wins in a row in all competitions and look to have put October’s dip behind them. The front three clicked, the midfield controlled the tempo, and defensively they were rarely troubled.

For Leicester, it’s a tough result that leaves them with just one win from seven. Only Liverpool and West Ham’s winless runs keep them off the bottom. They face the Hammers next in a game that already feels must-win.

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Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to beat Liverpool 2–1 in a closely contested encounter in north London, continuing their strong start to the season.

The visitors struck first. A mix-up at the back allowed the ball to fall kindly to Beata Olsson, who tapped in from two yards out in the 11th minute. Crucially, it was Liverpool’s first WSL goal in over 400 minutes — and a rare early lead in a difficult campaign.

However, Spurs responded quickly. Just eight minutes later, a well-worked corner routine straight from the training ground saw Japanese midfielder Toko Koga bundle the ball over the line after Liverpool keeper Teagan Micah failed to claim the delivery. It was Koga’s first goal for the club and gave Spurs the lift they needed.

From that point on, the game opened up. Both sides had chances in transition, but a lack of cutting edge in the final third kept the score level heading into half-time.

Then came the turning point. In the 52nd minute, Eveliina Summanen picked out Amanda Nilden with a well-weighted ball down the left. Nilden burst forward and delivered a pinpoint cutback to Bethany England, who finished confidently into the top corner from the penalty spot area.

Liverpool pushed for a late equaliser. Yet despite their effort, they created few clear chances and were unable to break through a well-organised Spurs defence. The home side managed the closing stages with composure to see out the win.

Tottenham’s strong start under head coach Martin Ho continues. They move to 15 points from seven games and host London City Lionesses next in a London derby.

For Liverpool, the pressure continues to mount. It’s now seven defeats from seven, with just two goals scored. They return to Merseyside next weekend for what already feels like a must-win match at home to Brighton.

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