There is a new name at the top of the Women's Super League after the matches of 25 October. Chelsea came from behind to win 3-1 at Crystal Palace thanks to a Melvine Malard double and a Sandy Baltimore penalty, while Manchester City dropped points for the first time this season in a 1-1 derby draw with Manchester United, Elisabeth Terland scoring a late equaliser. According to Sky Sports, the two leaders are now level on points with Chelsea ahead on goal difference. Liverpool, meanwhile, rescued a 2-2 draw with London City Lionesses through a stoppage-time own goal.
Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea: Baltimore makes the difference
Sonia Bompastor left Lauren James and Keira Walsh out of her squad with the midweek Champions League tie against Roma in mind, Sky Sports reports. Chelsea dominated early, with two efforts cleared off the line and goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin making a double save inside the first 15 minutes, yet it was Palace who scored: Molly Bartrip bundled in from a corner in the 20th minute. Sky Sports notes it was Palace's first goal against Chelsea in eight meetings.
Bompastor brought on Erin Cuthbert and Baltimore at half-time and the game turned. Moments after missing an open goal early in the second half, Malard collected a Katie McCabe throw-in 25 yards out and unleashed a stunning equaliser, according to Chelsea's report. In the 75th minute Baltimore beat three Palace defenders and crossed for Malard to head in, and in the 88th minute Baltimore converted a penalty after Malard was fouled in the box.
The win spared Chelsea a first-ever defeat by Palace, Sky Sports notes. The club say it was their sixth win from seven WSL games, and summer signing Manaka Matsukubo made her debut as a 90th-minute substitute.
Man Utd 1-1 Man City: Terland ends the perfect start
Andrée Jeglertz's City arrived having won all six of their opening league games. According to the Guardian, Eva Olid's United created the better chances in the first half, with Terland unable to connect properly with an Andrea Medina cutback, and Jess Park clipped the crossbar around the hour mark.
Khadija Shaw broke the deadlock in the 68th minute on her 100th WSL appearance, backing into Dominique Janssen before turning and firing low into the corner, Sky Sports reports. United kept pushing, and in the last minute of normal time Shaw's own defensive header from a Maya Le Tissier ball dropped to Terland, who finished first time.
The Guardian notes how far United have come since last season, when both league derbies ended in 3-0 City wins. Jeglertz told Sky Sports: "Overall, it's a fantastic football game." Terland was content too: "I think with the way the game evolves we should be happy with a point."
Liverpool 2-2 London City Lionesses: a point in stoppage time
At St Helens Stadium, Beata Olsson put Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot after Maria Leon dragged down Jenna Clark at a corner. London City turned it around before half-time from two home errors: Freya Godfrey dispossessed goalkeeper Khiara Keating to score, then Danielle van de Donk seized on a short Alejandra Bernabe header back and squared for Kadidiatou Diani to make it 2-1.
Liverpool controlled much of the second half, with a Cornelia Kapocs cross bouncing off the post, and were finally rewarded in the 92nd minute when Jana Fernandez turned Kapocs' delivery into her own net, the club's match report says. Head coach Gareth Taylor was proud of his side but frank about the mistakes: "we gifted them two goals and we need to be better at that."
The title race after 25 October
Compiled from Sky Sports, the Guardian and Chelsea's official site:
| Team | Result on 25 October | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | Won 3-1 at Crystal Palace | Six wins from seven, top on goal difference |
| Man City | Drew 1-1 at Man Utd | Six wins and a draw from seven, second |
| London City Lionesses | Drew 2-2 at Liverpool | Third |
The Guardian says Terland's goal breathed fresh life into the title race. Chelsea's match-winner Malard is a former Manchester United striker, Sky Sports points out. In the previous WSL round covered by KBVN+, Arsenal also came from behind to win the north London derby 2-1 at Tottenham (read the report).
What's next
Chelsea host Roma in the Women's Champions League at Plough Lane on 28 October at 5.45pm UK time (00:45 on 29 October in Vietnam), according to the club. City also have a Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek before visiting London City Lionesses on 1 November, a trip the Guardian suggests may be the trickiest of their campaign so far. Liverpool are away at West Ham in the WSL on 1 November, with a 2pm UK kick-off (9pm in Vietnam) at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.