A dramatic day in the Barclays Women’s Super League saw Arsenal net two late goals, Leicester City hold Man United and Everton win at Anfield.
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City (Att: 4,903)
Manchester City 5-0 Bristol City
Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa (Att: 35,829)
Brighton & Hove Albion 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur (Att: 6,951)
Liverpool 0-1 Everton (Att: 23,088)
Arsenal broke Aston Villa hearts with two stoppage-time goals to win 2-1. Maz Pacheco scored a very rare WSL goal when heading in from a Lucy Staniforth corner, Rachel Daly headed off the line to deny Alessia Russo a first-half equaliser. Midway through the second period, Caitlin Foord hit the post for the Gunners and Russo could not force the rebound home past Daphne van Domselaar. Arsenal welcomed back Beth Mead from injury as a late substitute, 12 minutes were added for stoppages and in the second of those Katie McCabe blasted in the leveller from a tight angle. Stina Blackstenius hit the post, Mead later setting up Russo to score what proved to be the decider.
Manchester United were held 1-1 by Leicester City, as both sides remained unbeaten. In first-half stoppage-time, United’s Hinata Miyazawa hit the bar and Lucia Garcia saw her effort tipped round the post by Janina Leitzig. Leicester broke the deadlock via a free kick before the hour mark, Aileen Whelan finishing unmarked at the far post. Within ten minutes United were level, Maya le Tissier with a glancing header from Katie Zelem’s corner. Mary Earps tipped over a Lena Petermann shot, the Foxes later surviving 10 added minutes to take the point.
Everton got off the mark in the best way possible, with victory over Liverpool at Anfield. They lost Lucy Hope to injury in the opening seconds, Liverpool’s Missy Bo Kearns scored after play restarted but was called offside, the Reds’ Ceri Holland also denied early on but by a fingertip Courtney Brosnan save onto the bar. Megan Finnigan headed Everton one up from a Katrine Veje corner on 31 minutes. Twice in a couple of minutes late on, Katje Snoeijs was close to sealing it for the Toffees, Rachel Laws turning one shot over the top, before she hit the crossbar.
All Manchester City’s five goals against Bristol City came from first-half headers, as they went top of the league on goal-difference. Jill Roord and Khadija Shaw bagged a brace each, with Laia Aleixandri also finding the target with her head.
Tottenham Hotspur overcame an early deficit to claim a 3-1 win away to Brighton. Elisabeth Terland headed the hosts ahead at the Amex after eight minutes, Maisie Symonds having provided the delivery. Martha Thomas brought Spurs back on level terms in first-half stoppage-time, after Drew Spence effort hit the woodwork. Grace Clinton gave them the lead with a 25-yard strike after 65 minutes and Ria Percival sealed the three points in added time.
