Man City Women 2-0 Chelsea Women: Impressive hosts win WSL match

Manchester City leapfrogged defending champions Chelsea to go second in the Women's Super League with an impressive victory over the Blues on Sunday.

Filippa Angeldahl's brilliantly lofted 20th-minute strike put City ahead and Lauren Hemp rifled in the second.

City's first league win over Chelsea since 2017 means they only trail leaders Manchester United on goal difference at the top of the table.

Chelsea are a point back in third but have a game in hand.

This was their first WSL defeat since the opening game of the season, while City remain unbeaten in the league since a defeat by Chelsea last September.

The meeting of the title contenders, which marked Women's Football Weekend, was watched by 5,222 fans at Academy Stadium, just shy of City's record crowd at their home stadium.

City rise to challenge in must-win game

Speaking in his pre-match news conference, City manager Gareth Taylor had said "we need to win this weekend, simple as that".

Those words clearly informed City's attitude to this game, as they pressed Chelsea and produced one of their finest performances of the campaign.

The high press brought City six corners in the first 20 minutes, while they constantly attacked down the right where Chloe Kelly looked to cut inside with menace - and it was from the right side that the first-half goals came.

Angeldahl's opener was a delightful effort from the corner of the box, her chip leaving Chelsea keeper Ann-Katrin Berger stranded.

Nine minutes later, Kelly's high cross from the right was only half cleared, allowing Hemp to crisply fire the loose ball past Berger on the half volley.

This was the 11th time Hemp has both scored and assisted in a WSL game, having set up Angeldahl for the opener. Only Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead have done so more often in English top-flight games than the 22-year-old England international.

City looked every inch a side which have not lost in 90 minutes since 25 September, and must now be considered a serious contender for the WSL title.

They could even afford for WSL top scorer Khadija Shaw - watched from the stands by fellow Jamaican star Usain Bolt - to have a rare off day.

Bright absence leaves Chelsea in the dark

As good as City were, Chelsea were far below their best, and manager Emma Hayes did not even wait until half-time before making her first changes.

Lauren James and Sophie Ingle were hooked before the interval, and Chelsea were sent out several minutes early from their break.

In defence Chelsea were unusually shaky, clearly missing Millie Bright who was absent after picking up an injury during their midweek Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over defending champions Lyon.

Hayes said Bright should be back in time to face the French side for next week's second leg. She cannot get the England central defender back again soon enough.

Going forward, Chelsea were limited to playing long balls over the top for Sam Kerr to chase, which City comfortably dealt with after cutting off the supply from midfield.

Kerr, currently on 49 WSL goals, had few chances, firing straight at Ellie Roebuck early on before being denied from a tight angle by the City keeper in the second half.

Chelsea improved after the break, however their best chance of the whole game came in injury time, Melanie Leupolz volleying over from 12 yards.

Hayes was also given another worry when Erin Cuthbert limped off with an injury in the second half, leaving the Scottish midfielder a doubt for the second leg against Lyon.

Line-ups

Man City Women

Formation 4-3-3

1Roebuck

14Morgan6Houghton5Greenwood4Aleixandri

12Angeldahl25Hasegawa7Coombs

9Kelly21Shaw11Hemp

1Roebuck14Morgan6Houghton5Greenwood4Aleixandri12Angeldahl25Hasegawa7Coombs9KellyBooked at 84mins21Shaw11HempBooked at 73minsSubstituted forBlakstadat 78'minutes

Substitutes

2Casparij3Stokes8Fowler10Castellanos13Raso15Ouahabi22MacIver33Kennedy41Blakstad

Chelsea Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

30Berger

18Mjelde26Buchanan16Eriksson7Carter

8Leupolz5Ingle

10James22Cuthbert11Reiten

20Kerr

30Berger18MjeldeSubstituted forCankovicat 67'minutes26Buchanan16Eriksson7Carter8Leupolz5IngleSubstituted forCharlesat 36'minutes10JamesSubstituted forRytting Kanerydat 36'minutes22CuthbertSubstituted forFlemingat 80'minutes11Reiten20Kerr

Substitutes

1Musovic15Périsset17Fleming19Rytting Kaneryd21Charles27Abdullina28CankovicReferee:Paul HowardAttendance:5,222

Live Text

Match ends, Manchester City Women 2, Chelsea Women 0.

Second Half ends, Manchester City Women 2, Chelsea Women 0.

Attempt missed. Sam Kerr (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Guro Reiten with a cross.

Attempt missed. Melanie Leupolz (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Guro Reiten with a cross.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Delay in match because of an injury Stephanie Houghton (Manchester City Women).

Attempt blocked. Guro Reiten (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Melanie Leupolz.

Attempt missed. Khadija Shaw (Manchester City Women) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Chloe Kelly with a cross.

Offside, Chelsea Women. Melanie Leupolz tries a through ball, but Sam Kerr is caught offside.

Chloe Kelly (Manchester City Women) is shown the yellow card.

Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Chloe Kelly (Manchester City Women).

Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Alex Greenwood.

Attempt blocked. Jessie Fleming (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Kerr.

Substitution, Chelsea Women. Jessie Fleming replaces Erin Cuthbert because of an injury.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.