‘Use that pain to go again’ – Arteta calls on Arsenal to bounce back after Villa defeat
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Chelsea saw their 34-game unbeaten run end at the hands of Everton, who delivered a shock 1-0 loss to the champions at home at Kingsmeadow.
It was a dream start for The Toffees when Honoka Hayashi scored the game’s solitary goal in the 12th minute from their first shot on target.
Toni Payne delivered a low cross into the six-yard box that slipped past striker Kelly Gago at the near post, and Hayashi’s late run into the box allowed her to finish from a tight angle.
The Blues did not panic and were soon able to dominate possession, but Everton’s mid-block proved to be tough to break down and the hosts were often forced to pass from side to side and wait for an opening.
Multiple openings did in fact come, notably for Alyssa Thompson, but goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan was forced to make several spectacular saves to keep Chelsea goalless.
The visitors defended frantically but routinely gave the ball back to Chelsea, and it seemed almost inevitable that Bompastor’s side would equalise.
Yet, the goal never came and, in the end, Brian Sorensen’s gameplan of trying to frustrate Chelsea as much as possible worked, and Everton picked up just their second league win of the campaign.
Chelsea are now winless in their last three league games after draws against Liverpool and Arsenal and defeat to Everton, and are six points behind leaders Manchester City.
Khadija Shaw scored twice as Man City extended their lead at the top of the table to six points with a 3-0 win over Leicester City.
In a one-sided affair, City had a remarkable 30 attempts on goal, with Leicester only mustering one touch in their opponents’ box at a rain-soaked King Power Stadium.
That said, it wasn’t until the 74th minute that Shaw broke the deadlock following a lapse in concentration from Celeste Boureille.
Brazil forward Kerolin added the gloss with City’s third in stoppage time after Shaw’s well-taken second helped the visitors assert their dominance.
Shaw then turned provider for substitute Kerolin, whose finish into the far corner was her first since the final day of last season, completing a routine away win for Andree Jeglertz’s side.
Leicester remain firmly in the relegation zone, having failed to register a single shot on target.
Brighton end away winless run
Elsewhere, Kiko Seike’s early opener at Hayes Lane earned Brighton their fourth WSL win of the season against London City Lionesses.
The result brought an end to the Seagulls’ four-game wait for a win on the road, coming in impressive fashion as London City’s three-match winning streak on home soil came to a halt.
Janssen sparkles as Man Utd rally to win
Dominique Janssen’s brilliant free-kick helped Manchester United back to winning ways as a hard-fought 2-1 victory over West Ham moved them back into the top three.
Elisabeth Terland’s strike separated the teams at Leigh Sports Village heading into the second half, but Shekeira Martinez restored parity just eight minutes after the restart in stunning fashion.
With little appearing to be on, Martinez produced an audacious bicycle-kick that looped over Phallon Tullis-Joyce for the Germany international’s third goal in as many WSL games.
Janssen’s sumptuous set-piece after 71 minutes proved decisive, and West Ham are now winless in six away trips to the red side of Manchester, remaining rooted in 11th place.
Tottenham stage dramatic late comeback
Meanwhile, Olivia Holdt’s 95th-minute winner settled a tight contest in Tottenham’s favour 2-1 against Aston Villa to send them level with neighbours Arsenal on 19 points.
Oceane Deslandes was sent off for two bookable offences, and it proved costly as the home side made their numerical advantage count in the second period.
It took Tottenham until the 86th minute before they began their comeback, however, as Bethany England cancelled out Kirsty Hanson’s opener at Brisbane Road, just two minutes earlier.
Holdt then struck deep in stoppage time to move Spurs to within two points of second-placed Chelsea, having played a game more.
