Sky Sports recapped Sunday’s Women's Super League fixtures, highlighting Chelsea’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village – the Blues’ first win of the campaign and a stark illustration of the difficulties faced by United’s new manager Eva Olid. Both clubs had been held to draws on the opening weekend, but the second encounter was anything but balanced. From the opening whistle, Chelsea imposed their rhythm, creating chances and converting them with clinical efficiency, while United struggled to find a foothold in a match that quickly turned into a lesson in defensive organization for Olid’s side. The first half saw Chelsea cruising after two well‑crafted goals.
Sjoeke Nusken opened the scoring with a poise beyond her years, slotting a low drive after a swift passing move that left the United backline scrambling. Shortly thereafter, midfield maestro Keira Walsh added a second, striking from the edge of the box with a beautifully timed, curled effort that swerved past the goalkeeper and nestled in the corner. By the break, the visitors were already five goals up, a lead that would prove insurmountable.
The second period continued the onslaught. Lauren James, who was later named player of the match, extended the lead in the 61st minute with a composed finish after receiving a precise through‑ball. Ellie Carpenter followed just four minutes later, tapping in a low cross that caught the United defense off‑balance. The final nail in the coffin came in stoppage time when Lucy Bronze, a veteran presence in the Chelsea back line, rounded off the scoring with a calm finish from close range after a sustained attack.
United’s hopes of securing their first league win this season faded as they prepared for a daunting away clash with Arsenal on Saturday. In other WSL action, Manchester City remained the sole unbeaten side after a 4-1 triumph over Aston Villa.
Villa had surprised many by drawing 1-1 with Chelsea in the opening round, but their resilience unraveled within the first 14 minutes of this match. Akane Okuma, the Villa hero from the previous weekend, mis‑timed a corner, allowing defender Jade Rose to head the ball home for City. Mary Fowler doubled the lead shortly after with a powerful strike from the edge of the area.
Villa managed to claw back a goal before halftime when debutant Amalie Vangsgaard found the net, offering a glimmer of hope. The second half saw City assert their dominance.
Khadija “Bunny” Shaw displayed her clinical edge, receiving the ball high up the pitch and finishing with a deft dink that left the goalkeeper stranded. Lauren Hemp, who celebrated her 100th goal involvement, provided the assist for Shaw’s strike and later added a fourth goal in stoppage time.
Her shot deflected off Mathilde Harviken before curling into the far corner, sealing a comprehensive victory for the defending champions and extending their lead at the top of the table. Further down the table, newly promoted Crystal Palace held Arsenal to a goalless draw at the Emirates. France international goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud‑Magnin was the standout performer, making several crucial saves despite Arsenal unleashing 30 attempts, nine of which were on target. The most promising chance for the Gunners fell to Alessia Russo just before halftime; a perfectly placed left‑wing cross found her, but her shot sailed over the bar, leaving the visitors frustrated.
Brighton staged a dramatic comeback against fellow newcomers Birmingham, salvaging a 2-2 draw after trailing by two goals. Birmingham had seemed destined for 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 from a tight angle, slipping the ball beneath the Birmingham goalkeeper after a scramble in the box. Former Palace keeper Sophie Baggaley had kept Brighton in the game with a series of impressive saves, but defensive lapses in the final minutes allowed the opposition to equalise before Seike’s decisive strike. Charlton Athletic endured a difficult 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 week, Charlton showed improvement but could not withstand Everton’s late pressure. Holly McNamara’s cross was inadvertently turned into her own net by Leighanne Robe, sealing the defeat. The Addicks had already been reduced to ten men when Ashleigh Neville received a straight red for a high challenge on Ruby Mace, and Hawa Cissoko compounded the situation by picking up two yellows in quick succession during stoppage time. The loss left Charlton perched second from bottom, just 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. Tottenham took the lead against the run of play when Signe Gaupset’s cross deflected off Sam Kerr and looped over goalkeeper Khiara Keating just before halftime. Liverpool responded in the second half, with Aurelie Csillag heading in a near‑post effort to level the score shortly before the hour mark.
Both sides pushed for a winner, but the match ended in a stalemate, leaving Liverpool frustrated with a missed opportunity to secure three points. Overall, the second round of WSL fixtures delivered a mixture of dominant performances, hard‑earned draws, and sobering defeats, setting the stage for an increasingly competitive season as teams adjust tactics and vie for positions in the league hierarchy.