Sunday, January 17, 2021

Fran Kirby hits winner as Chelsea beat Manchester United to go top of WSL

Reigning Women’s Super League champions Chelsea moved to the top of the table with a 2-1 win against challengers Manchester United.

United had led the way at the start of play but suffered a first defeat of the campaign as goals from Pernille Harder and Fran Kirby earned the Blues victory.

Harder put Chelsea in front on the half-hour mark. After repeated attempts at goal by her team-mates had been blocked by the Reds defence, the ball ricocheted to Harder in the six-yard box and she hammered it into the back of the net.

Manchester United equalised in the 61st minute with a stunning goal from substitute Lauren James. James received the ball on the left and beat a defender before playing a neat one-two with Ella Ann Toone and curling the ball into the right-hand corner of the goal from the edge of the 18-yard box.

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But Fran Kirby put Chelsea back ahead four minutes later. The forward used impressive pace to get on the end of a long, looping clearance from goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger and took advantage of hesitant defending to calmly slot home.

Louise Taylor’s match report will follow.



from Football | The Guardian https://ift.tt/3nVYWfs
via IFTTT

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