The Women’s Super League is usually rather predictable. One of Chelsea, Arsenal, or Manchester City will win, they will occupy the top three and others will try – and fail – to break into the upper end of the table.
Smaller teams come knocking, but by the end of the season the might of this division’s giants prove too much to handle. Sometimes they will pull off scalps and headlines will be written about the established order coming to an end, but that’s never the case after the final game has been played.
Why might this season be any different? What is so special about this campaign that means the barrier could be surpassed? It doesn’t have much to do with other teams being any better, but rather the top clubs not being as strong as they previously have.
All three have had their faults. Be it injury issues, adjusting to a new manager, struggling with the fixture congestion or a lack of consistency, none have truly been their usual selves.
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And while they have faltered, others have flourished and two of those clubs met on Sunday afternoon. Both Manchester United and Spurs were only promoted to the WSL in 2019; both are now getting closer to realising their European ambitions.
It was meant to be a close game at Leigh Sports Village, a true footballing contest between two top teams. Marc Skinner’s United decided that would not be the case. They were dominant from the off, they controlled the ball, and Rehanne Skinner’s Spurs had no option but to sit back and hope they could get something on the counter.
So when Vilde Boe Risa bundled in Katie Zelem’s free-kick it came as little surprise. After all, it was through a set piece minutes earlier where they had come the closest when Ella Toone fired inches wide, and it was at those set plays where Tottenham had been most vulnerable.
WSL results
- Manchester United 3-0 Tottenham
- Brighton 0-0 Chelsea
- Leicester City 1-2 Aston Villa
- Reading 3-2 Birmingham City
- West Ham 3-0 Everton
- Manchester City 1-1 Arsenal
Hayley Ladd made it two within four minutes, Leah Galton added a third in the second half. Spurs couldn’t even get a look-in.
A win so comprehensive against a fellow European challenger must surely be a good omen for United, and now the race for third will likely be between them and neighbours Manchester City.
That’s why Sunday was so important for the league. Leigh Sports Village played host to the day’s first game, but its last came as Manchester City welcomed Arsenal.
The Gunners may top the table, but the loss of Leah Williamson after she suffered muscle damage in November left a gaping hole in their defence and scuppered their momentum.
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She made her long-awaited return in Manchester, and almost instantly Jonas Eidevall’s side looked more secure. Gone was the shakiness in the back line and instead a steady presence was to be seen in the middle.
But Williamson would go down clutching her hamstring and all of that would change. She continued playing but was made way for new signing Rafaelle Souza at the break.
With nobody able to break the deadlock, both sides began to take risks and City took advantage, although a refereeing mishap played into their hands.
The ball hit referee Abigail Byrne in the build-up but she allowed play to continue. With no drop ball given, Demi Stokes played the ball forwards, Lauren Hemp dashed down the wing and Khadija “Bunny” Shaw was there to convert her cross.
“You’d like to think that it’ll even itself out,” Gareth Taylor said of the mistake. “We’ve been on the wrong end of that this season, on many occasions with refereeing decisions, so it was nice if that was the case, if one went our way.”
Jonas Eidevall added: “We all make mistakes. I make mistakes. Referees make mistakes, players make mistakes. And games like this are just going to be decided by small margins.”
But that controversy would not be the end of the game. Of course it wouldn’t – this is the WSL and there’s nothing it provides better than drama.
In added time, former United winger Tobin Heath rushed forwards and rifled a shot past Khiara Keating, drawing the scores level.
On the whole, the day could not have gone much better for United. Not only did they win in a crucial six-pointer, a former player scored to end City’s hopes and put them four points behind while Chelsea also dropped points.
Maybe somebody breaking into the top three isn’t too far-fetched after all.
Chelsea’s attack finally thwarted and Leicester woes continue
Chelsea failed to find the back of the net for the first time in over three years yesterday as they were held to a goalless draw at Brighton.
The Super League champions dropped to third place – albeit with two games in hand. Erin Cuthbert came the closest to scoring for the Blues when her second-half strike hit the bar.
It was the first time Emma Hayes’ side have failed to find the back of the net in 60 WSL matches, stretching back to October 2018.
Hayes said: “We played well today. If a chance goes in from the first-half dominance I think it’s a different outcome, but a team like Brighton grows in confidence within the game.
“We had one-on-ones and we hit the bar. These are great situations but we didn’t execute and that’s why it’s a point rather than three.”
Brighton ended a run of six consecutive defeats and manager Hope Powell said: “We knew it was going to be a fight and probably wouldn’t be pretty, but it shows that we can compete.”
Aston Villa ended a four-match losing run with a 2-1 win at Leicester. Jemma Purfield’s own goal provided the visitors with the lead after four minutes, but Leicester were back on level terms with 14 minutes left when Villa goalkeeper Hannah Hampton turned Purfield’s corner into her own net. However, Alisha Lehmann struck deep into stoppage time to clinch three points.
Reading secured a brilliant 3-2 comeback win against bottom side Birmingham to record a fourth straight WSL victory.
Gemma Lawley and Jade Pennock fired the Blues into a 2-0 lead inside 36 minutes.
But Justine Vanhaevermaet pulled one back in first-half stoppage time before Natasha Dowie scored Reading’s second from the penalty spot moments after the interval.
Emma Harries then completed the fightback with an impressive volley after 55 minutes.
West Ham secured a comfortable 3-0 home win against Everton to move up to seventh.
Katerina Svitkova opened the scoring for the Hammers with four minutes of the opening period remaining before Dagny Brynjarsdottir doubled her side’s tally shortly before the hour mark.
Claudia Walker made sure of the victory when she netted a third in the closing stages.
Additional reporting from the Press Association.
As it stands
- Arsenal – P11, W8, D2, L1, PTS 26
- Manchester United – P12, W7, D3, L2, PTS 24
- Chelsea – P10, W7, D1, L2, PTS 22
- Tottenham – P12, W6, D3, L3, PTS 21
- Manchester City – P12, W6, D2, L4, PTS 20
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