The Barclays Women's Super League has kicked off. Check out the fixtures and get your tickets here!
Sign up

08.10.2023

BWSL giants share spoils on dramatic weekend

A pair of dramatic draws between title contenders punctuated a seismic weekend of Barclays Women’s Super League action.

Last season’s top four traded blows but couldn’t be separated, Chelsea and Arsenal both scoring injury-time equalisers to claim draws with Manchester City and Manchester United respectively.

After a fast start from City in Sunday’s headline fixture, Chloe Kelly’s powerful strike brushed off Erin Cuthbert flew in to give Gareth Taylor’s side a deserved seventh-minute lead.

Alex Greenwood saw a second yellow for time wasting on 38 minutes and the dynamic of the game instantaneously shifted as Chelsea took greater control.

The visitors created a handful of chances but City kept them at arms length – until they went down to nine, Lauren Hemp dismissed on 80 minutes for a second yellow.

Emma Hayes hauled Millie Bright up front for the dying minutes as Chelsea pressed home their two-player advantage and Guro Reiten finally bundled home to make it 1-1 deep into injury time from a corner.

Lacasse’s late show earns point

Chloe Lacasse’s injury-time exocet helped Arsenal claim a vital 2-2 draw with Manchester United in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Friday night at Leigh Sports Village.

Stina Blackstenius marked her return to the Gunners side with the opening goal but Leah Galton soon pounced on a mistake from United keeper Sabrina D’Angelo to level terms.

Jonas Eidevall’s side were left staring down the barrel of a second straight BWSL defeat when Melvine Malard poked home ten minutes from time, only for Canada’s Lacasse to pop up with a brilliant 20-yard leveller three minutes into stoppage time.

REHANNE’S REBOOT GAINS MOMENTUM

Goals from summer signing Riko Ueki and Kirsty Smith helped West Ham to a convincing 2-0 win over Brighton.

Ueki, star of Japan’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals, was at the heart of the Hammers’ first league win under new manager Rehanne Skinner.

Smith turned home a rebound from her shot to put the visitors ahead on 12 minutes and after riding out a spell of pressure late in the first half, Ueki put the game to bed with a clinical header from Lisa Evans’s free-kick.

spurs put bristol city to the sword

Newly-promoted Bristol City’s tough introduction to the top flight continued with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur at Brisbane Road.

Spurs stamped their authority on the contest and Finnish midfielder Olga Athtinen found the bottom corner from 25 yards for her first goal in Spurs colours.

Robert Vilahamn’s side cashed in their dominance as Martha Thomas charged down Kaylan Marckese’s clearance to bag a second and another Finn, Eveliina Summanen, curled home a brilliant free-kick to make it 3-0 before half-time.

Midway through the second half, City struck back as Summanen handled the ball in the box and Amalie Thestrup sent Rebecca Spencer the wrong way from the penalty spot, but it would prove a mere consolation as Spurs claimed the first victory of the Vilahamn era.

LEICESTER MAKE IT TWO FROM TWO

Lena Petermann scored her second goal in as many games and made it two wins from two for Leicester City as they beat Everton 1-0.

The visitors created a hatful of chances, the best coming from 12 yards as Justine Vanhaevermaet missed a spot-kick on the stroke of half-time and was unable to convert the rebound.

Leicester’s Janina Leitzig was in inspired form, making a brilliant double save to deny Vanhaevermaet and foiling Emma Bissell and Lucy Hope’s goalbound efforts just after half-time.

It left Petermann poised to strike and when clean through on goal, she lifted her finish over Emily Ramsey to secure a second successive victory for Willie Kirk’s outfit.

Liverpool claim impressive Villa victory

Liverpool joined Leicester on maximum points from two games thanks to a confident 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Prenton Park.

Marie-Therese Höbinger put the home side in front midway through the first half, cutting inside to drive home an eye-catching opening goal.

The anticipated riposte from Carla Ward’s visitors never came as Rachel Daly cut an isolated figure up front, with the hosts extending their lead in the second half.

Substitute Melissa Lawley’s mazy run found Natasha Flint who spinned and swept home on 78 minutes to wrap up a second win on the trot.

Share article

Watch live matches, highlights and all your favourite women’s football content for free

Barclays WSL Barclays WC