Manchester City grabbed the derby day bragging rights with a statement 3-1 win against Manchester United in front of a bumper Old Trafford crowd.
With a record 45,000-plus fans flocking to the Theatre of Dreams, Jill Roord, Lauren Hemp and Khadija Shaw all netted to silence the home supporters and help 10-player City leapfrog their rivals into third in the Barclays Women’s Super League table.
Katie Zelem’s first-half penalty had propelled Marc Skinner’s side into the lead before Roord and Hemp’s fine quickfire strikes dramatically turned the game on its head.
And just 10 minutes into the second period, Shaw pounced on Maya Le Tissier’s underhit backpass to charge down Mary Earps’ attempted clearance and divert home in freak fashion.
The pressure from Bunny pays off!#BarclaysWSL @mancitywomen pic.twitter.com/9TYvflzjvB
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) November 19, 2023
Laia Aleixandri was sent off for a second yellow card to tee up a frantic finale but City held on to deliver an impressive display of their title credentials in their red-hot rivals’ backyard.
Gunners breeze past Brighton in Crawley
Arsenal waltzed to their fifth win on the spin with a fluent 3-0 victory at Brighton.
Stina Blackstenius, Caitlin Foord and Frida Maanum grabbed the goals at Broadfield Stadium to help Jonas Eidevall’s side keep up the heat on table-toppers Chelsea, who put a fabulous five past Liverpool 24 hours earlier.
Swedish star Blackstenius netted an early opener to quieten a record sell-out crowd in Crawley.
And despite the Seagulls rallying for a leveller throughout, Foord and Maanum scored late on to bring Brighton back down to earth after last weekend’s stunning victory at Manchester City.
Jubilant James engineers five-star Chelsea display
Lauren James’ hat-trick heroics fired Chelsea to a dominant 5-1 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
On a week where Emma Hayes’ high-profile next move to become head coach of the United States women’s national team was announced, the Blues delivered a trademark display under their decorated boss to dispatch Matt Beard’s visitors in style.
Stamford Bridge stunners! 🤩#WhereGreatnessLives x #BarclaysWSL pic.twitter.com/Z43n90Jbyy
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) November 18, 2023
James netted a treble and grabbed an assist as Aggie Beever-Jones and Sjoeke Nusken also got on the scoresheet,
Jess Carter’s own goal had temporarily levelled for Liverpool before James found her brilliant best to help Chelsea extend their lead at the WSL summit.
Dazzling Daly winner fires Villa to victory in London
Rachel Daly netted a stunning late winner to propel Aston Villa to a dramatic 3-2 victory at West Ham.
Lisa Evans’ strike looked to have salvaged a point for the hosts before the England ace’s eleventh hour intervention secured a precious three points for Villa.
Viviane Asseyi’s penalty had fired the Hammers ahead before Anna Patten’s header levelled before half-time.
Adriana Leon turned the tables for Villa just after the break and despite Evans’ expert half volley with 10 minutes remaining, Daly struck a memorable goal on the turn to clinch Villa’s second win of the WSL season.
IT’S WHAT SHE DOES! 🔥@RachelDaly3 adding another worldie finish to her collection! #BarclaysWSL @AVWFCOfficial pic.twitter.com/9xbJmfO1wA
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) November 19, 2023
Toffees suffer sour late taste against Bristol City
Amalie Thestrup’s late leveller rescued Bristol City a point against Everton at Walton Hall Park.
The Danish summer signing’s 82nd minute goal hauled the Robins level on points with West Ham at the bottom of the table and denied Brian Sorensen’s hosts a maiden home win of the campaign.
The Toffees got off to the sweetest of starts when Martina Piemonte netted her first WSL goal after just four minutes.
But Amy Rodgers’ powerful strike levelled on the stroke of half-time and despite Megan Finnigan firing Everton back in front on the hour mark, Thestrup rolled home late on to salvage the visitors a 2-2 draw.
Bizet denies Leicester landmark win
Celin Bizet’s second-half equaliser earned Tottenham a point at Leicester.
Janice Cayman had fired the mid-table Foxes into an early lead before Norwegian Bizet prevented the hosts from drawing level on points with Spurs in the table.
Leicester goalkeeper Janina Leitzig pulled off several stunning stops to keep her side in front but was unable to do anything about Bizet’s equaliser as Spurs kept themselves in touching distance of the top three European spots.
