Chelsea close gap on WSL leaders Manchester United with win over Brighton

By PA Sport Staff

Chelsea closed the gap to Manchester United at the top of the Women’s Super League to one point after they comfortably ran out 3-1 winners over Brighton.

Guro Reiten and Jess Carter scored twice in nine first-half minutes and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd sealed the three points 19 minutes from time, with Danielle Carter’s late strike for the visitors nothing but a consolation.

Emma Hayes’ defending champions have a game in hand over United and moved two points clear of Manchester City as the WSL title race hots up.

Job done. 💪 pic.twitter.com/jPR9Oux0P4

— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) March 8, 2023

The hosts took the lead from the penalty spot when Sam Kerr was brought down inside the area by Zoe Morse and Reiten stepped up and dispatched from 12 yards.

The Blues quickly had a second when Jess Carter swept home at the near post.

Chelsea wrapped up the win on 71 minutes when Kerr unselfishly squared the ball to Kaneryd, who tapped home into an empty net.

Brighton continued to plug away and got a much deserved goal as Danielle Carter rounded off a counter attack two minutes from time.

Arsenal reignited their title hopes by ending a run of three league games without a win with a 2-0 victory over Liverpool thanks to first-half goals from Stina Blackstenius and Caitlin Foord at Meadow Park.

Arsenal, who clinched the League Cup at the weekend, were ahead through Blackstenius’ thumping effort from outside the box and into the roof of the net after 28 minutes.

Foord doubled Arsenal’s lead six minutes later when she was on hand to tap home a rebound after Blackstenius’s powerful shot was parried back into play by Rachael Laws.

Jonas Eidevall’s side are fourth in the table, six points adrift of the leaders but with a game in hand over both Manchester clubs.