90min

WSL roundup: gameweek 20

By Ali Rampling

Chelsea maintained top spot in the WSL with a win on gameweek 20
Chelsea maintained top spot in the WSL with a win on gameweek 20 / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
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There were big results here, there and everywhere in the WSL during gameweek 20, with ramifications for the title, European race and battle to avoid the drop as the season ticks towards a conclusion.

It remains finely poised at the WSL summit as Chelsea and Arsenal both picked up wins, while Manchester United handed the impetus to Manchester City in the Champions League race.

There was also a rare victory for basement side Birmingham, and a bit of Yui Hasegawa magic for West Ham.

Tottenham 1-3 Chelsea

Chelsea maintained their lead at the WSL summit with a win at Tottenham - despite playing an hour with 10 players after Ann-Katrin Berger was dismissed for a foul on Rachel Williams.

An own goal from Sophie Ingle had give the hosts the lead after Molly Bartrip's corner clattered the post and cannoned in off the Chelsea midfielder. Guro Reiten levelled for Chelsea with a cross-cum-shot before Berger saw red.

The Blues made two subs at half time to adjust to going a player down, and the tactical switch paid dividends. Sam Kerr headed her side in front with 19 minutes remaining, before Jessie Fleming netted a long range stunner at the death to wrap up the victory.

Everton 0-3 Arsenal

Arsenal kept the heat up on WSL leaders Chelsea with a comfortable 3-0 win over Everton, with Beth Mead and Jordan Nobbs both reaching goal and assist milestones in the process.

Caitlin Foord gave Arsenal a first half lead, before Mead netted from close range to double her side's advantage and reach half a century of WSL goals.

Nobbs then also joined the 50 WSL goal club with an emphatic finish, and having been teed up intelligently by Mead, the Arsenal winger broke the WSL's assist record.

Manchester City 4-0 Leicester

It's advantage Manchester City in the race for Champions League football as they recorded a comfortable 4-0 win over Leicester.

Caroline Weir diverted Chloe Kelly's cross home to give City the lead, before Lauren Hemp doubled the host's advantage with a dinked finish.

Julie Blakstad netted her first City goal with an absolute thunderbolt, and Alex Greenwood completed the rout from the penalty spot in the second half.

Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United

Manchester United dropped crucial points in their bid to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history as they were held to a goalless draw by Aston Villa.

United registered 18 shots - with Martha Thomas seeing a couple of good chances go begging and Anita Asante popping up with a couple of big defensive interventions - as the hosts turned in a resolute performance to keep Marc Skinner's side at bay.

The result leaves United one point ahead of rivals City, but Gareth Taylor's side have a game in hand and a superior goal difference.

Brighton 1-3 Birmingham

Relegation-threatened Birmingham grabbed a huge win in their bid to avoid the drop with a surprise 3-1 victory over Brighton.

Veatriki Sarri opened the scoring for the visitors with a surging run and finish, before turning provider with a teasing cross for Louise Quinn to head home.

Julia Zigiotti pulled one back for Brighton in the closing stages, only for centre-back Quinn to get herself on the scoresheet again, poking home from a corner to restore her side's two-goal advantage. Birmingham sit four points behind Leicester with three games remaining - one of which is a game in hand over their relegation rivals.

Reading 1-2 West Ham

West Ham moved up to sixth in the WSL with a 2-1 win over Reading, with Yui Hasegawa at the heart of the action for the Hammers.

The Japanese international set up Emma Snerle for her first West Ham goal, before dancing between two Reading defenders and slotting home to double her side's lead.

Faye Bryson netted a stoppage time consolation for Reading.

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