WSL round-up as Arsenal down Man City, Chelsea go top and Man Utd salvage point
The Women's Super League returned from the international break with drama on the agenda.
Reigning champions Chelsea lead the league as they stretched their unbeaten run to five games following their dismantling of struggling Aston Villa on Saturday.
Behind Chelsea, the competition remains fierce. Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool sit level on 10 points each, while Manchester United remained within four points of the top courtesy of another late Rachel Williams rescue mission deep into stoppage time.
Meanwhile, Bristol City Women recorded their first win of the season in a five-goal thriller against West Ham to lift them out of the relegation spot. Mirror Football runs through the weekend's matches here.
Chelsea sit pretty at the top as Villa woes continue
Blues boss Emma Hayes opted to rest striker Sam Kerr after the 30-year-old played three matches over the international break, scoring five goals in the Matildas' bid for Olympic qualification. Such a decision might have been considered contentious if this wasn't Hayes' Chelsea, who swiftly showed that no Kerr really is no problem as they flexed a staggeringly deep bench.
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Millie Bright, on her 250th appearance for the club, opened the scoring shortly after 20 minutes, before fellow veteran Fran Kirby doubled the reigning WSL champions' advantage. Though Daphne van Domselaar kept Villa within a reasonably competitive shout of Chelsea at the interval, a woeful second-half defensive display saw Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Ashley Lawrence, Aggie Beever-Jones and Niamh Charles consign Villa to a fifth league defeat.
Fran Kirby celebrates scoring Chelsea's second against Aston Villa in the 6-0 victory (Photo by Morgan Harlow - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)The victory fired Chelsea to top of the table with 13 points, while Villa slumped to the table's bottom without a point.
The celebratory jubilation from Chelsea's latest triumph was swiftly halted as the club announced Hayes' impending departure as head coach after 12 years (and 13 major trophies). The 47-year-old has been linked with the vacant United States Women's National Team manager position.
Meanwhile, the future of Villa boss Carla Ward is mired in uncertainty following this latest capitulation, which leaves last season's disruptors in a perilous position.
Arsenal ignite title charge against Man City
An extraordinary moment of individual brilliance or a high-profile error was always going to prove the fine margin in this heavyweight clash.
For City, it was an unfortunate blunder from 19-year-old Khiara Keating that ultimately decided the outcome. The recent Lionesses call-up misjudged Katie McCabe's pass over the top to Stina Blackstenius and gifted an open goal to the Swedish striker with three minutes remaining. Blackstenius could do little else but put the hosts 2-1 up.
It was a cruel ending for a goalkeeping performance that promised to be defined by a show of mental fortitude that belied Keating's age. The keeper made up for conceding an early penalty after taking down Cloe Lacasse as she denied Kim Little from the spot.
City's profligacy in front of goal, however, left the door open for Jonas Eidevall's side, who could bask in this latest show of steely last-ditch spirit. The Gunners extended their unbeaten run to four matches, reinstating themselves in the title race mix in the process.
Late drama for Man Utd as Williams salvages point
United are more than familiar with the art of late drama, but perhaps there is no more seasoned doyen in the craft than Rachel Williams.
The 35-year-old knows the super-sub territory intimately. So when all seemed lost after Guro Bergsvand's 90th-minute header, who else but Williams at the back post?
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It was another late rescue mission for Marc Skinner's side to be indebted to. United left plenty to be desired as they trudged into the changing rooms at half-time: more creativity, more patience, an improved final ball. All of which could be filed under the larger header of chances and, specifically, United's inability to make the most of theirs.
The same couldn't be said of Brighton, who leapt ahead through (who else?) Elisabeth Terland on the half-hour mark. They say confidence is a striker's greatest weapon. The 22-year-old can certainly attest to that as she duly struck her fifth league goal in as many matches, the second most in the league behind Thomas' six.
Sophie Baggaley of Brighton denies Man Utd (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)United fans could be forgiven for wondering why a similarly reliable cutting edge was lacking given the presence of Geyse, Melvine Malard, Leah Galton and World Cup Golden Boot winner Hinata Miyazawa all donning the United strip on the grass.
Most fingers would point vigorously to Sophie Baggaley, a familiar face for United fans who were now typically discovering how indomitable their former back-up goalkeeper could be when given the opportunity to strut outside Mary Earps' shadow. As the half-time whistle blew, Baggaley had cobbled together another stately highlight reel, much to the obvious chagrin of any one of United persuasion.
A poorly executed scissor kick from Geyse in the second half seemed to suggest a fated result for United, until Ella Toone planted a sweet strike into the top-right corner where not even the inspired form of Baggaley could dream of denying.
Shortly after, it was Earps' turn to flex her credentials as the World No.1, but Bergsvand's bullet header from a corner got the better of United's keeper.
Yet, with eight minutes of injury-time, substitute Williams salvaged a crucial point to keep United within four points of league leaders Chelsea while denying Brighton their second win of the season.
Rachel Williams celebrates scoring the equaliser deep into stoppage time against Brighton (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)Everton seize late equaliser as Thomas off the mark
Football is rarely, if ever, straightforward. But one of the WSL's most reliable subplots to emerge of late is the ridiculous prolific streak relished by Spurs striker Martha Thomas.
The former United striker has seven goals to her name this season, but the 27-year-old was unable to augment her tally at Brisbane Road due to the impasse that was Republic of Ireland keeper Courtney Brosnan.
Grace Clinton put Spurs ahead just before the interval as she rose higher than Brosnan to head home Drew Spence's deep cross. It was another glimpse into the ever-expanding repertoire of the Manchester United loanee, whose movement and vision made her a nuisance for Everton's midfield and defence.
Courtney Brosnan celebrates Everton's draw with Tottenham Hotspur (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)But where Robert Villahamn's should have plenty of goals to the good, Everton remained stubbornly competitive courtesy of Spurs' profligacy as much as the Toffees' own mettle.
And Brian Sorensen's side eventually earned their just rewards as Aurora Galli converted from the spot just before full-time.
The draw leaves Spurs level with City, Arsenal and Liverpool behind Chelsea, while Everton could place a vital point between themselves and the table's stragglers beneath them.
Liverpool continue to fly high as they down Foxes
The Reds continued their remarkable form as Marie Hobinger's late goal earned Matt Beard's side a hard-fought victory over Leicester at Prenton Park.
Melissa Lawley put the hosts ahead after good work with Grace Fisk before Missy Goodwin levelled for the Foxes 10 minutes later with a sumptuous left-footed strike just inside the area.
But with six minutes remaining, Hobinger ensured it was the home side who were celebrating the loudest as she found the bottom corner from Mia Enderby's cut-back.
Marie Hobinger celebrates scoring a late winner for Liverpool over Leicester City (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)The game-winner was more than deserving for a side that enjoyed by far the better chances in a fiercely contested match, with the hosts notching 18 attempts at goal to Leicester's five.
The late victory also marked Beard's 150th match in the WSL. Meanwhile, Leicester's dismal away record of just one win in their last 14 matches on the road continues.
Vixens find first points in five-goal thriller against Hammers
If Bristol City Women are to be remembered for any one thing in their Season of Return, their obstinate resolve in the face of otherwise bleak circumstances cuts a convincing candidate.
Once again, Lauren Smith's side found themselves down a goal first after early pressure saw Vivianne Asseyi convert from the spot.
But once again, City displayed a gritty determination to defy their circumstances and five minutes later former Hammer Amalie Thestrup headed the visitors level with her third goal of the campaign and her first in open play.
Brooke Aspin celebrates scoring the game-winner for Bristol City over West Ham (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)A thumping strike in the area courtesy of Ella Powell after an attempted bicycle kick from Thestrup gave City the lead, before Riko Ueki restored parity once more to culminate a frantic first-half.
City, fuelled by the prospect of securing their first points of the season, restored their lead through Chelsea loanee Brooke Aspin shortly after the interval.
The order of the day became a disciplined defensive performance which, coupled with Kaylan Marckese's performance between the sticks, ensured City returned to BS3 with all three points and a place above the relegation spot. It was a victory made all the sweeter with the return of the injured Abi Harrison who arrived as a late substitute for the final 20 minutes.
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