Sky Sports delivered a comprehensive recap of Sunday’s matches across the Women's Super League, highlighting Chelsea’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village, which marked the Blues’ first triumph of the campaign. Both sides had failed to secure a win during the opening weekend, but it was the visitors who imposed their will from the first whistle, delivering a sobering lesson in their inaugural home game under new United manager Eva Olid. Chelsea entered the break with a comfortable lead, thanks to a well‑crafted strike from Sjoeke Nusken and a superbly timed finish by the ever‑impressive Keira Walsh, who curled a powerful drive from just outside the box into the top corner. The second half saw the dominance continue unabated.
Lauren James, later named player of the match, added a goal in the 61st minute, followed shortly by Ellie Carpenter’s effort in the 65th. The final tally was sealed when Lucy Bronze tapped in the last kick of the game, completing a comprehensive rout. United’s quest for their first league win now stretches into a demanding away fixture against Arsenal on Saturday, a match that will test Olid’s fledgling squad and her tactical adjustments after such a heavy defeat. In other WSL news, Manchester City remained the sole unbeaten side after a 4-1 triumph over Aston Villa, preserving their perfect start.
Villa had shown resilience in the opening weekend, holding Chelsea to a 1-1 draw, but that resolve crumbled within the first 14 minutes of the second‑round clash. Akane Okuma, the hero of Stamford Bridge, made a costly error when she mis‑controlled a corner, allowing defender Jade Rose to head the ball past her and give City the early lead.
Mary Fowler doubled City’s advantage with a clinical strike from the edge of the box. Villa fought back before halftime, with debutant Amalie Vangsgaard scoring to reduce the deficit to 2-1. The visitors pressed for an equaliser, and after striking the post earlier, Khadija Bunny Shaw showcased her finishing flair with a deft dinked finish following a high‑up‑the‑pitch ball recovery. Lauren Hemp, who celebrated her 100th goal involvement by assisting Shaw, added a fourth in stoppage time.
Her shot deflected off Mathilde Harviken before finding the far corner, sealing a clinical display for Andree Jeglertz’s side. The win pushed the defending champions two points clear at the summit, maintaining their flawless record.
Further down the table, France’s international goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud‑Magnin delivered an inspired performance as newly promoted Crystal Palace earned a goalless draw against Arsenal at the Emirates. The home side unleashed a staggering 30 attempts, nine of which were on target, yet they could not breach the well‑organised Palace defense. Peyraud‑Magnin, who joined the Gunners on loan last summer, stood tall, making several crucial saves. The most notable chance fell to England striker Alessia Russo just before halftime; a superb left‑wing cross found her, but her shot sailed wide of a wide‑open net, underscoring the day’s missed opportunities.
Brighton staged a dramatic comeback against newly promoted Birmingham, with Kiko Seike’s late goal securing a 2-2 draw after the Seagulls had been two goals down. Birmingham had looked poised to claim their first three points after Oceane Hurtre and Lily Crosthwaite each netted before the hour mark. Brighton applied relentless pressure, and former goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley produced a series of impressive saves to keep her side in the game.
However, defensive lapses in the final fifteen minutes proved costly. Olivia Garcia reacted quickest to Baggaley’s initial save, pulling one back, and moments later Seike slotted a tight‑angle effort beneath the keeper to equalise.
Charlton Athletic endured a painful night at Goodison Park, reduced to nine players after a series of disciplinary setbacks and ultimately losing 1-0 to Everton. After a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool in the opening weekend, the Addicks showed marked improvement against their Merseyside rivals but fell victim to late pressure.
Holly McNamara’s cross was inadvertently turned into her own net by Leighanne Robe, conceding the only goal with less than fifteen minutes remaining. The setback came after Charlton had already been reduced to ten men when Ashleigh Neville received a straight red card for a high challenge on Ruby Mace. The situation worsened when Hawa Cissoko collected two yellow cards within two minutes of stoppage time, leaving the team with just nine players at the final whistle. The loss leaves newly promoted Charlton second from bottom, ahead of Manchester United only 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 against the run of play when Signe Gaupset delivered a cross from the left‑hand byline that deflected off Sam Kerr and looped over goalkeeper Khiara Keating just before half‑time. Liverpool fought back in the second half, with Aurelie Csillag heading in a near‑post equaliser shortly before the hour mark.
Although the Reds continued to press for a winner, they were unable to find a breakthrough, settling for a point. Overall, the second round of WSL fixtures provided a mix of dominant performances, hard‑learned lessons for new managers, and dramatic comebacks, setting the stage for an increasingly competitive season ahead.