Sky Sports delivered a comprehensive recap of Sunday’s Women's Super League fixtures, highlighting Chelsea’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village – the first win of the season for the Blues and a stark reminder of the difficulties facing United’s new manager, Eva Olid. Both sides had failed to secure points during the opening weekend, yet it was Chelsea who imposed their will from the first whistle, delivering a masterclass in attacking football while United struggled to find any foothold on their own turf. The first half saw Chelsea cruising comfortably, thanks to an early strike from Sjoeke Nusken that set the tone for the match. The Dutch forward’s precise finish was followed shortly by a sensational effort from Keira Walsh, who curled a powerful drive from the edge of the penalty area into the top corner, leaving United’s goalkeeper with no chance.
By the interval, the visitors were already five goals clear, a lead that would only increase as the game progressed. The second half continued in the same vein. Lauren James, who was later named player of the match, added her name to the scoresheet in the 61st minute, showcasing her pace and composure in front of goal.
Just four minutes later, Ellie Carpenter, the Australian defender known for her surging runs, arrived late into the box and tapped in a well‑crafted cross, extending the lead to 4-0. The final blow came in injury time when Lucy Bronze, a veteran of the England setup, slotted home a simple finish after a swift counter‑attack, sealing a 5-0 rout. United’s hopes of securing their first league win this season have been pushed further away, and they now face a daunting away fixture against Arsenal on Saturday, a match that will test the resilience of Olid’s side and the morale of a squad still searching for its identity. In other WSL action, Manchester City remained the sole unbeaten team after a convincing 4-1 triumph over Aston Villa.
Villa had impressed in the opening round with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea, but their defensive solidity crumbled within the first quarter‑hour of this encounter. Akane Okuma, a key figure for Villa, mis‑timed a corner, allowing defender Jade Rose to head home the opening goal for City.
Mary Fowler then doubled the lead with a clinical strike from the edge of the box, showcasing her growing confidence at the top level. Villa’s response came just before the break when Amalie Vangsgaard, making her debut, found the net to halve the deficit, sparking a brief resurgence. However, the home side’s momentum was halted when Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, displaying her trademark poise, collected a high ball and finished with a delicate dink that restored City’s two‑goal cushion.
Lauren Hemp, who celebrated her 100th goal involvement by setting up Shaw’s scorer, added a fourth in stoppage time. Her shot deflected off Mathilde Harviken before curling into the far corner, completing a clinical display under the guidance of manager Andrée Jeglertz.
This victory left the defending champions two points clear at the summit, the only side to preserve a perfect start to the campaign. Further down the table, newly promoted Crystal Palace earned a hard‑fought 0-0 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates, thanks largely to an inspired performance from French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud‑Magnin.
Arsenal dominated possession, registering 30 attempts on goal, nine of which were on target, yet they were unable to breach the Palace defense. The most promising chance fell to England striker Alessia Russo, who missed a clear opportunity just before halftime, firing wide after a brilliant left‑wing cross. Despite the barrage of attacks, the home side left empty‑handed, highlighting the growing competitiveness of the league.
Brighton secured a dramatic 2-2 equaliser against newly promoted Birmingham in a match that showcased the Seagulls’ fighting spirit. Birmingham had taken a 2-0 lead by the 60th minute through goals from Oceane Hurtre and Lily Crosthwaite, appearing poised to claim their first three points. However, Brighton applied relentless pressure, and Kiko Seike’s last‑minute strike from a tight angle restored parity, completing a stunning comeback. Former Brighton goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley had been in fine form, making several crucial saves to keep her side in the game, but a defensive lapse in the final minutes allowed Olivia Garcia to react quickest to a rebound and pull one back for Birmingham before Seike’s decisive goal.
At Goodison Park, Charlton Athletic endured a chaotic defeat, reduced to nine players after a series of disciplinary issues. After a heavy 4-0 loss to Liverpool on the opening weekend, the Addicks showed signs of improvement against Everton but ultimately fell 1-0. The decisive goal came when Holly McNamara’s cross was inadvertently turned into her own net by Leighanne Robe, a mishap that occurred after Charlton had already been reduced to ten men following a straight red card for Ashleigh Neville’s high challenge on Ruby Mace. The situation worsened when Hawa Cissoko received two yellow cards in quick succession during stoppage time, leaving the team with only nine players on the field as the final whistle blew.
The loss left Charlton perched second from bottom, just ahead of Manchester United on goal difference. In London, Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham Hotspur at the Totally Wicked Stadium despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Tottenham took the lead just before halftime when Signe Gaupset delivered a cross from the left byline that deflected off Sam Kerr and looped over goalkeeper Khiara Keating.
Liverpool responded in the second half, with Aurelie Csillag heading in a near‑post finish to level the score shortly before the hour mark. Both sides continued to press for a winner, but the match ended in a stalemate, leaving Liverpool frustrated after a game they largely controlled.
Overall, the second round of WSL fixtures delivered a mixture of dominant performances, dramatic comebacks, and hard‑earned points, underscoring the increasing parity and excitement within the league as teams battle for supremacy and survival alike.