FA WSL 2020-2021 – Round 12 Wrap: Chelsea top, Villa flops, hugging stops

After last week’s significantly scaled-back round of fixtures, the FA Women’s Super League resumed as usual this week, with all 12 clubs making an appearance for the first time in a month. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the UK, and league management demanding players not hug or high-five each other after scoring, there were goals aplenty up and down the land – and even a new league leader. Beyond90 takes a look over the week’s fixtures.

Game of the Round: Chelsea 2 – 1 Manchester United

Chelsea continued its undefeated run and climbed atop the league table along the way, handing Manchester United its first loss of the season with a 2-1 result at Kingsmeadow.

A sublime individual goal on the hour mark from United substitute Lauren James cancelled out Pernille Harder’s close-range effort, only for the competition’s form midfielder Fran Kirby to chip in moments later and send Chelsea to the summit.

Having rested a significant portion of her first-choice players last week against Reading, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was free to select her strongest line-up this week, with captain Magdalena Ericsson, Maren Mjelde, Pernille Harder, and Ji So-yun all returning to the starting side.

United was without American winger Tobin Heath, who was listed among the substitutes after picking up an injury mid-week, while compatriot Christen Press returned to the starting side to lead the line in place of Kirsty Hanson, who slotted into Heath’s preferred right-wing role.

Chelsea should have taken the lead after just two minutes, as striker Sam Kerr pounced on a loose ball and jinked inside her defender to send an awkward shot goalward, only to be foiled by the sprawled limbs of Mary Earps.

The Blues had another gilt-edged chance two minutes later – again through Kerr – after Fran Kirby robbed Ella Toone in midfield and threaded a wonderful through-ball upfield, only for the Matildas captain to spray her shot wide of the target. 

And it was third time unlucky for Kerr in the 14th minute, who found herself on the end of a brilliant run-and-pass from Kirby, only to be crowded out by defenders before skewing a shot – potentially off a United boot – out for a goal kick.

The Blues finally took the lead on the half-hour after some penalty area pinball was finished coolly by Harder, slamming home from the six-yard box to take her goal tally to three for the season.

https://twitter.com/BarclaysFAWSL/status/1350821892194648065

The visitors had the ball in the back of the net after 40 minutes through winger Kristy Hanson, but it was all for nought as she was adjudged to have been offside in the lead-up.

Behind at the break, Stoney called upon 19-year-old midfielder James to lead the line for the final 35 minutes, replacing the more-experienced Press at the point of the attack.

And it was the youngster who would make all the difference for United, her dazzling run from the left wing into the penalty area – ably assisted by a one-two pass from Ella Toone – culminating in a delightful curling equaliser inside the far upright.

https://twitter.com/BarclaysFAWSL/status/1350833625273495558

Chelsea wouldn’t be denied the victory on its own patch though, and after her four-goal display last week at Reading, diminutive maestra Fran Kirby had her side’s second, latching on to goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger’s long clearance to wrangle possession on the run and dink into the United goal for her eighth of the season.

https://twitter.com/BarclaysFAWSL/status/1350834815424073728

Kerr and Harder were withdrawn with 20 minutes to play as manager Hayes opted for the fresh legs of Beth England to chase from the front, with Sophie Ingle slotting into a more defensively-minded midfield role alongside Melanie Leupolz.

James could have again been the hero for the visitors, finding herself one-on-one with Mjelde in the 71st minute and skilfully making a yard of space past the Norwegian, only to blast a shot beyond the upper angle of Berger’s goal.

United would have one final chance deep into time added on, as Earps sent a lofted free-kick into the Chelsea penalty area from halfway, but it was not to be as Berger claimed easily, assuring the hosts maintained their record-equalling unbeaten run and their ascendency on the league table.

Manchester City 7 – 0 Aston Villa 

Four goals in the 15 minutes before half-time helped fourth-placed Manchester City crush lowly Aston Villa 7-0 at the Academy Stadium on Sunday.

Missing manager Gareth Taylor, goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck and midfielder Caroline Weir due to COVID-19 protocols, and Sam Mewis, Rose Lavelle and Abby Dahlkemper due to United States international duty, the hosts were still able to open the scoring after just 109 seconds through left-winger Lauren Hemp.

First-half goals to Jill Scott (17′), Georgia Stanway (31′), Hemp (38′) and Ellen White (45′), as well as an own goal from Villa defender Natalie Haigh (40′) had City 6-0 up at the break.

Villa managed to stem the flow of goals in the second stanza, but Chloe Kelly’s strike 11 minutes from time ensured the Citizens would equal their greatest-ever WSL winning margin with a 7-0 win, consigning the visitors to their third consecutive defeat.

Reading 1 – 1 Arsenal

Arsenal was forced to come from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw against Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Monday.

The Royals took the lead after just five minutes, with striker Lauren Bruton scoring against her old club, getting on the end of an in-swinging Fara Williams free kick to tap home from close range.

Arsenal drew level with five minutes of the first half remaining as Golden Boot leader Vivienne Miedema tapped in from point blank range after Grace Moloney did well to save Jill Roord’s initial header.

Winger Caitlin Foord was introduced for Arsenal midway through the second half, clocking up almost a half-hour on the pitch, including a rarely-seen 10 minutes of injury time, while fellow Australians Lydia Williams and Steph Catley didn’t feature.

Everton 4 – 0 Bristol City

Bristol City’s season from hell continued on Sunday as Tanya Oxtoby’s team was defeated 4-0 by Everton at Walton Hall Park.

Everton midfielder Izzy Christiansen scored in either half and provided a third for Megan Finnigan, while Simone Magill capitalised on a Benedicte Håland fumble to add a goal of her own.

Everton winger Hayley Raso started for the home side, clocking up 67 minutes before being substituted for the returning Valérie Gauvin, while for the Robins midfielder Chloe Logarzo ran out the full 90 minutes, with Ella Mastrantonio being introduced as a half-time substitute. 

Birmingham City 0 – 0 Brighton & Hove Albion

Birmingham City and Brighton combined for one of the rarest feats in the FA WSL this season – a goalless draw – at Damson Park on Sunday.

Defender Rebecca Stott didn’t travel with the Seagulls squad, who had by far the better of the attacking opportunities, only to be turned away at each time of asking.

West Ham United 0 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur

Lucy Quinn’s first-half goal was enough for Tottenham Hotspur to claim all three points in an enthralling London derby against West Ham United at Victoria Road on Monday.

Having replaced injured striker Rachel Williams after just 20 minutes, Quinn put her name on the scoresheet 15 minutes later, ghosting into space on the penalty spot to turn home Gemma Davison’s crisp cutback.

The Hammers continued to press for an equaliser, with Emily van Egmond playing on the left side of an attacking duo with Martha Thomas as part of a much more fluid 5-3-2 formation than the side had used in the past, but to no avail.

Mackenzie Arnold started and finished the match in goal for United, while Alanna Kennedy and Ria Percival both played out the full 90 minutes for the visitors, with Percival in a less-familiar right fullback position.

Birmingham City vs Everton – postponed

Birmingham City’s fixture against Everton at Damson Park on Thursday morning was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, with a new fixture date to be announced in the coming days.

League table

Upcoming fixtures

Aston Villa vs Reading at Bescot Stadium – 11.30pm, Saturday 23/1
Arsenal vs West Ham United at Meadow Park – 11.00pm, Sunday 24/1
Manchester United vs Birmingham City at Leigh Sports Village – 11.00pm, Sunday 24/1
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester City at Broadfield Stadium – 1.00am, Monday 25/1
Bristol City vs Chelsea at Twerton Park – 1.00am, Monday 25/1
Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton at The Hive Stadium – 1.30am, Monday 25/1

The postponed fixtures from the weekend of 9-11 January have been rescheduled for the weekend of 30-31 January.