Sky Sports delivered a comprehensive recap of Sunday’s Women's Super League fixtures, highlighting Chelsea’s dominant 5-0 victory over Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village – the first win of the season for the Blues. Both sides had failed to secure three points on the opening weekend, but the match quickly turned into a showcase of Chelsea’s attacking firepower and a sobering introduction for United’s new manager, Eva Olid. From the opening whistle, Chelsea imposed their rhythm, creating chances and testing United’s back line. The first half saw Sjoeke Nusken break the deadlock with a well‑timed finish, followed shortly by a spectacular strike from Keira Walsh, who curled a powerful drive from the edge of the box into the top corner.
By halftime the visitors were already cruising with a two‑goal cushion, and the atmosphere at Leigh Sports Village reflected the growing confidence of the Chelsea side. The second half only amplified the onslaught.
Lauren James, who was later named player of the match, added her name to the scoresheet in the 61st minute, threading a precise pass into the net. Ellie Carpenter followed just four minutes later, exploiting a defensive lapse to slot home.
The final nail in the coffin came in stoppage time when Lucy Bronze, the seasoned England defender, completed the rout with a composed finish, sealing a 5-0 result that left United searching for answers ahead of a demanding away fixture against Arsenal on Saturday. United’s quest for their inaugural league win this campaign continues, and the loss underscores the steep learning curve for Olid as she seeks to instill her tactical philosophy in a side still adjusting to her demands.
The defeat also serves as a reminder of the competitive depth within the WSL, where newly promoted teams can quickly find themselves on the back foot against established powerhouses. In other WSL action, Manchester City remained the sole unbeaten side after a convincing 4-1 triumph over Aston Villa. Villa had impressed in the opening weekend, holding Chelsea to a 1-1 draw, but their resilience unraveled early in this encounter.
Akane Okuma’s errant attempt at a corner allowed defender Jade Rose to head home the opening goal for City within the first 14 minutes. Mary Fowler doubled the lead with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box, while Villa managed to pull one back before halftime when Amalie Vangsgaard, on her debut, found the net to halve the deficit. The second half saw City reassert their dominance. Khadija "Bunny" Shaw, showcasing her clinical instincts, finished a beautifully dimpled ball after winning it high up the pitch.
Lauren Hemp, who celebrated her 100th goal involvement by assisting Shaw, later added a fourth for City with a deflected shot that curled into the far corner after brushing off Mathilde Harviken. The win extended the defending champions’ lead at the top of the table, leaving them two points clear and the only team with a perfect start to the season.
Further down the standings, newly promoted Crystal Palace earned a hard‑fought 0-0 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates, largely thanks to an inspired performance from French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud‑Magnin. Arsenal dominated possession, registering 30 attempts on goal—nine of which were on target—but could not breach the Palace defense. Alessia Russo came close to breaking the deadlock just before the break, striking a powerful left‑wing cross that left her one‑on‑one with the keeper, only to see the ball sail over the bar.
Brighton staged a dramatic comeback against fellow newcomers Birmingham, salvaging a 2-2 draw after trailing by two goals. Birmingham had taken a 2-0 lead by the 60th minute through well‑placed finishes from Oceane Hurtre and Lily Crosthwaite.
However, Brighton applied relentless pressure, and in the dying minutes Kiko Seike struck a low, angled shot that slipped under the Birmingham goalkeeper’s body, securing a point for the Seagulls and highlighting the unpredictable nature of early‑season matches. In the Merseyside derby, Charlton endured a painful 1-0 loss to Everton at Goodison Park, reduced to nine players after a series of disciplinary setbacks. The Addicks had already been reduced to ten men when Ashleigh Neville received a straight red for a high challenge on Ruby Mace.
Later, Hawa Cissoko accumulated two yellow cards in quick succession, leaving Charlton with just nine players on the field. Everton’s solitary goal arrived late, when Holly McNamara’s cross was inadvertently deflected into her own net by Leighanne Robe, sealing the defeat for Charlton. The result leaves the newly promoted side second from bottom, narrowly ahead of Manchester United on goal difference. At the Totally Wicked Stadium, Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham Hotspur despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances.
Tottenham took the lead just before halftime when Signe Gaupset’s cross from the left byline ricocheted off Sam Kerr and looped over Liverpool goalkeeper Khiara Keating. Liverpool responded in the second half, with Aurelie Csillag heading in a near‑post finish to level the scores just before the hour mark.
Both teams pushed for a winner, but the match concluded in a stalemate, reflecting the tightly contested nature of the league. Overall, the second round of WSL fixtures showcased the league’s growing competitiveness, with established clubs reinforcing their dominance while newcomers fought fiercely to stay afloat.
The season remains wide open, and fans can expect further twists and turns as teams continue to adapt and battle for supremacy.