Manchester City lead the Barclays Women’s Super League after victory over Aston Villa, Chelsea overcome Spurs in entertaining encounter.
Manchester City 2-1 Aston Villa
Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace
Leicester City 1-0 Everton
West Ham United 0-2 Arsenal
Chelsea 5-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Aston Villa were threatening a surprise win with a half-time lead, brought about by Gabi Nunes clever finish from a Kirsty Hanson cross. But Manchester City turned the game around in the space of eight second-half minutes, as Lauren Hemp went past three defenders to set up Jill Roord to fire home, then hooked in when following up her own header. The result took City back to the top of the table ahead of the international break.
Maika Hamano fired Chelsea ahead against Tottenham from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s cut-back, Spurs levelled when Amanda Nilden’s long-range effort was deemed to have crossed the line before Hannah Hampton stopped it at the second attempt. The lead was regained just before the break, when Guro Reiten’s corner to the near post went in off the head of Nilden. The points were sealed as Rytting Kaneryd superbly volleyed home a Millie Bright ball into the box, before Reiten’s penalty hit the post and Sandy Baltimore buried the rebound. Eveliina Summanen scored from a late free kick for Spurs’ second goal, only for Rytting Kaneryd to rifle Chelsea’s fifth into the roof of the net.
Substitute Stina Blackstenius won a 70th-minute penalty for Arsenal under a challenge from West Ham’s Amber Tysiak, Mariona Caldentey converting from the spot. Blackstenius turned provider as Rosa Kafaji made sure of the win in the 89th minute.
Former Liverpool forward Katie Stengel netted at the second attempt for Crystal Palace away to her former team, the Reds equalising when Cornelia Kapocs charged down a defender’s attempted clearance and slotted past keeper Shae Yanez. It was a third draw in five games for Liverpool.
Leicester City went one up after eight minutes against Everton, Yuka Momiki working her way into the box and finding the bottom corner. That early effort was enough to clinch the Foxes a first win of the season.
