Chelsea cruised to a comfortable win against West Ham United at Victoria Road, propelling them to the summit of the Women’s Super League standings. Although they have played one match fewer than league leaders Manchester City, who host Arsenal later on Sunday, the Blues’ performance underscored their growing momentum. The match was not a walk‑over from the first whistle. It took Chelsea until the 37th minute to find the breakthrough.
Summer acquisition Melvine Malard, who arrived from Manchester United, waited for the right moment and then slipped a composed strike into the bottom corner, giving the visitors the lead just eight minutes before the break. The goal reflected Malard’s poise and her quick adaptation to Bompastor’s side.
After the interval West Ham continued to press, testing Chelsea’s defensive shape with a series of probing passes and crosses. The deadlock was finally broken with ten minutes remaining when England midfielder Keira Walsh struck from the edge of the box. It was Walsh’s third goal of the season and it put the game beyond any realistic comeback for the Hammers. Chelsea added a further tally in the dying stages when Maika Hamano rose to meet a cross and headed home from the far post with three minutes left, sealing a 3‑0 victory and preserving the team’s unbeaten start to the campaign.
In a separate fixture, London City Lionesses demonstrated why they are serious contenders for the title, demolishing Tottenham Hotspur 6‑1 in a display that combined clinical finishing with fluid team play. Spurs entered the match unbeaten in the top flight but were quickly overwhelmed. Spanish star Alexia Putellas opened the scoring within three minutes, tapping in a rebound after Grave Geyoro’s long‑range effort was palmed away. Putellas, who had already found the net the previous weekend against Brighton, added a second goal shortly thereafter, confirming her status as one of the league’s most lethal attackers.
The Lionesses’ second goal came from a well‑executed team move: Lucia Corrales delivered a precise cross that Kadidiatou Diani slotted into an empty net, marking the French forward’s first WSL goal. Putellas then completed a third strike from a corner, benefiting from a well‑timed run by Danielle van de Donk, who unfortunately missed an open chance that would have made it 4‑0.
Tottenham’s only bright moment in the first half arrived when Julie Blakstad’s free‑kick struck the bar, hinting at the potential they possessed. However, the second half saw the Lionesses extend their lead further.
Corrales again found Diani’s cross, and this time the ball slipped under goalkeeper Lize Kop for a second goal for the French forward. Spurs managed a consolation through Victoria Pelova, who finished from a left‑side cross by Blakstad, but the defensive frailties persisted. A clearance by Kop fell to Diani, who tapped in a third for London City. Near the final whistle, Delphine Cascarino added the sixth goal, slipping the ball beneath a struggling Kop to complete the rout.
Meanwhile, Everton’s Ruby Mace responded to her omission from Sarina Wiegman’s England squad with a brace in a 2‑1 triumph over Birmingham City. After being left out of the Lionesses’ upcoming international break, Mace made her displeasure known early when she capitalised on a rebound after Yuka Momiki’s effort hit the post, giving Everton the lead. The match had started with Everton dominating possession and creating several early chances, forcing Birmingham goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley into several saves. Birmingham’s Oceane Hurtre pulled one back after a breakaway, slotting the ball low into the net to make it five goals in five WSL games for her side this season.
Everton, however, were forced to cope with a serious injury to Zara Kramžar before half‑time, and Birmingham took control of the second half. Hurtre’s penalty appeal was waved away, and Lily Crosthwaite’s curling effort went wide from a good position. Mace then secured her second goal with a long‑range strike that took a double deflection before finding the far corner, sealing the win for Everton. The result lifted Everton to fifth place, overtaking Merseyside rivals Liverpool after last week’s derby loss, while Birmingham remain second‑bottom without a win since their promotion.
In the south London derby, Crystal Palace earned a valuable point thanks to Abbie Larkin’s spectacular long‑range effort, which levelled the score after Aston Villa’s Noelle Maritz had opened the scoring. Palace, under interim manager Brian Sorensen following the dismissal of Natalia Arroyo, were on the verge of their first victory of the season when Larkin surged forward from midfield and unleashed a low shot that bounced past goalkeeper Akane Okuma.
Both sides created further chances; Villa substitute Georgia Mullet missed a close‑range side‑footed attempt, and Palace’s Shannon O’Brien squandered a late opportunity in stoppage time, leaving the match tied. Brighton & Hove Albion delivered a dominant performance against newly promoted Charlton Athletic, with Japanese forward Kiko Seike netting a brace in a 5‑2 win that marked Charlton’s fifth defeat of the season. Charlton’s Cassandra Korhonen gave her side an early lead in the third minute, tapping in after her initial shot was saved. Brighton responded quickly when Seike tapped in from close range following solid work by Olivia Garcia.
Seike then set up a second Brighton goal by driving down the left wing and laying the ball off to Fran Kirby, who slotted home before the break. The second half saw Seike score again, extending Brighton’s lead, and the hosts continued to pile pressure. In stoppage time, Maisie Symonds crossed for Gabrille George, who headed home, while another late strike completed the scoring tally. The comprehensive victory highlighted Brighton’s attacking depth and underscored Charlton’s struggles to adapt to the top tier.
Overall, the round of fixtures showcased the growing competitiveness of the Women’s Super League, with title contenders solidifying their positions and several teams demonstrating resilience and ambition despite setbacks.