Chelsea Women top after beating United
Fran Kirby’s winner fired Chelsea top of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League as they beat Manchester United 2-1 at Kingsmeadow.
Pernille Harder’s strike following a goalmouth scramble was cancelled out by a screamer from United substitute Lauren James.
But the visitors were only level for four minutes before Kirby raced through to restore Chelsea’s lead and earn all three points.
United looked to press their hosts from the first whistle, but left gaps in behind for Sam Kerr to exploit.
The Chelsea striker had four excellent chances in the first 15 minutes but twice fired wide when through on goal, was then denied by a Mary Earps save, and once failed to pick out Fran Kirby with a square ball.
Chelsea finally took a deserved lead from a corner on the half-hour mark. Magdalena Eriksson’s header was cleared off the line and Fran Kirby’s follow-up hit the post, but when it broke to Harder she kept her cool to fire home.
United nearly hit back immediately when Kirsty Hanson rounded Ann-Katrin Berger and slotted into the net, only to be flagged for a narrow offside.
They did level 15 minutes into the second half in sensational style. Just five minutes after coming off the bench James drove at the Chelsea defence, exchanged passes with Ella Toone and curled a wonderful effort into the corner of the net.
United’s celebrations were short lived though as what looked an aimless punt from Eriksson caught out the visitors’ defence, and Kirby darted through to finish coolly past Earps for her fifth goal in two games.
The win lifts Chelsea above United on goal difference, while Emma Hayes’ side also have a game in hand.
Chelsea manager Hayes said: “I thought we should have been out of sight by half time with the chances we created. I was disappointed at 1-1, because I felt that even though they were coming back into the game, it shouldn’t have been 1-1.
“To recover from that setback, is a sign of a great team when they don’t get caught up in disappointments that happen in the moment.
“When I started at this club, I always wanted to be the dominant force in the women’s game, growing up knowing what Arsenal were.
“To think of Chelsea and what we’ve achieved here and continue to achieve, it gets harder and harder, and we are playing with a target on our back.
“I don’t think it’s the sort of thing you recognise until much later on how bloody good this team is.”
Chelsea (4-3-3): Ann-Katrin Berger; Maren Mjelde, Millie Bright, Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Andersson; Melanie Leupolz, So Yun Ji, Erin Cuthbert; Pernille Harder, Fran Kirby, Sam Kerr.
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