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Women's Football News

Chelsea blow title race open

Women's Football FA WSL news - 16 Jan 2019

The FA WSL title race was opened up further on the weekend after Chelsea won 2-1 away to Arsenal to keep their hopes of retaining it alive and put a dent in the Gunners' challenge.

Chelsea started the game quickly and were rewarded midway through the first half when Erin Cuthbert headed in a cross from Hannah Blundell. Beth England had a goal disallowed for offside after the break but just after the hour mark, Cuthbert struck again with her second goal with a well executed volley. Arsenal rallied late on with Vivianne Miedema pulling a goal back and the Dutch striker almost rescued a point for her side when her shot was well saved by Hedvig Lindahl. Chelsea held on for a vital win which means they are now just three points off the pace, with seven matches to play.

Defeat for Arsenal gave Manchester City the chance to replace them at the top of the table, and they duly did so with a 3-1 victory at West Ham Utd. They took the lead when Caroline Weir ran through to score and Lauren Hemp made it two with a 25-yard strike. Jane Ross gave the Hammers hope when she scored against her old club after half time but City wrapped up the win when Nikita Parris netted their third, four minutes from time.

Birmingham City's hopes of keeping pace with the top three were dealt a blow as they were beaten 1-0 by Bristol City. Gemma Evans headed in the only goal of the game from a free kick on sixteen minutes, to give the Vixens a fifth win of the season and sixth place in the table.

Liverpool moved themselves closer to the mid-table positions when a late goal gave them a 2-1 success away to Yeovil Town. Courtney Sweetman-Kirk gave Liverpool the lead from the penalty spot following a foul on Yana Daniels but Yeovil battled back to get themselves back on level terms early in the second half, Emily Donovan latching on to Ann Marie Heatherson's through ball to score. Both teams pushed forward for a winner but as the game went into injury time, Sweetman-Kirk had the final say with an overhead kick to break Yeovil hearts and record their first win since October.

Brighton & Hove Albion were the only home team in the division to register a point on Sunday as they fought out a goalless draw with Everton. Aileen Whelan hit the bar early on with a 25-yard strike for the Seagulls and Angharad James went close at the other end but neither team could break the stalemate and had to settled for a point apiece.