In a decisive showcase of attacking flair, Chelsea secured their inaugural victory of the Women's Super League season by overwhelming Manchester United 5-0 at Leigh Sports Village, according to Sky Sports' comprehensive review of Sunday’s fixtures. While both clubs had failed to claim three points during the opening weekend, it was the visitors who imposed their will from the first whistle, delivering a stark lesson to newly appointed United manager Eva Olid in her very first home encounter.
Chelsea entered the break with a comfortable lead, thanks to well‑crafted strikes from Sjoeke Nusken and the ever‑impressive Keira Walsh, whose goal came from a beautifully struck drive just outside the penalty area. The first half already hinted at the dominance that would define the match, as Chelsea’s fluid passing and relentless pressing left United scrambling for possession.
The second half saw the home side maintain, and even extend, their superiority. Lauren James, who was later named player of the match, added her name to the scoresheet in the 61st minute, followed closely by Ellie Carpenter in the 65th. The final nail in the coffin was hammered home by Lucy Bronze with the last kick of the game, sealing a comprehensive five‑goal haul for Chelsea.
United’s quest for their first league win continues, and they now face a daunting away trip to Arsenal on Saturday, a fixture that will test the resilience of Olid’s side after such a heavy defeat. Meanwhile, Manchester City remained the sole team with a perfect record after the second round of WSL matches, cruising to a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa. Villa had earned a respectable 1-1 draw against Chelsea in the opening weekend, but that resolve crumbled within 14 minutes of the second game.
Akane Okuma, the hero of Stamford Bridge, made an uncharacteristic error when she attempted to clear a corner, allowing defender Jade Rose to slot the ball home for City. Mary Fowler doubled the lead shortly thereafter with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.
Villa, however, found a glimmer of hope before the break when debutant Amalie Vangsgaard scored to halve the deficit. The visitors pressed for an equaliser, striking the post early in the second half, but Khadija Bunny Shaw restored City’s momentum with a deft, dinked finish after winning the ball high up the pitch. Lauren Hemp, who celebrated her 100th goal involvement by assisting Shaw, capped the night with a fourth goal in stoppage time. Her shot deflected off Mathilde Harviken before finding the far corner, completing a clinical performance orchestrated by City manager Andree Jeglertz.
The win extended the defending champions’ lead to two points at the top of the table, keeping them as the only side unbeaten. In a separate encounter, newly promoted Crystal Palace held Arsenal to a goalless draw at the Emirates, thanks largely to an inspired display from France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. Arsenal unleashed a staggering 30 attempts on goal, nine of which required the keeper’s intervention, yet none found the net.
The most promising chance fell to England forward Alessia Russo just before halftime; a superb left‑wing cross left her with a clear sight of goal, but her shot sailed wide, underscoring the day’s defensive dominance. Brighton staged a dramatic comeback against fellow promoted side Birmingham, ending the match 2-2 after trailing by two goals.
Birmingham had seemed poised to secure their first three points when Oceane Hurtre and Lily Crosthwaite each scored before the hour mark. However, Brighton’s perseverance paid off when Kiko Seike netted a late winner, capitalising on a defensive lapse in the final minutes. Former Palace keeper Sophie Baggaley had kept Birmingham at bay with a series of impressive saves, but a quick reaction from Olivia Garcia after an initial save allowed the equaliser, and a subsequent slip by Baggaley resulted in Seike’s decisive strike from a tight angle. Charlton Athletic endured a harsh defeat at Goodison Park, reduced to nine players after a series of disciplinary setbacks.
After a 4-0 loss to Liverpool in the opening weekend, Charlton showed improvement against Everton but ultimately fell 1-0 when Holly McNamara’s cross was inadvertently turned into her own net by Leighanne Robe. The goal arrived less than 15 minutes before full‑time, after Charlton had already been reduced to ten players when Ashleigh Neville received a straight red card for a high challenge on Ruby Mace.
Further compounding their woes, Hawa Cissoko collected two yellow cards in quick succession during stoppage time, leaving the Addicks with just nine men at the final whistle. The result leaves Charlton perched second from bottom, only ahead of Manchester United on goal difference.
In London, Liverpool were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Tottenham Hotspur at the Totally Wicked Stadium despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Tottenham took the lead against the flow of play when Signe Gaupset delivered a cross from the left byline that deflected off Sam Kerr before looping over goalkeeper Khiara Keating.
Liverpool responded in the second half, with Aurelie Csillag heading in a near‑post finish just before the hour mark to restore parity. Though Liverpool pressed for a winner, they were unable to break through, settling for a point. Overall, the second round of WSL action highlighted the early-season form of several contenders, with Chelsea and Manchester City reinforcing their positions at the summit, while newly promoted sides experienced a mix of resilience and growing pains.
The league continues to deliver excitement, drama, and a clear indication that the title race will remain fiercely contested as the season progresses.