Chelsea Women 2-0 Leicester City Women: Harder and Kirby deny newly-promoted Leicester first Women's Super League point

ByAlice Reeves Turner

Updated 10/10/2021 at 21:27 GMT

Late goals from Pernille Harder and Fran Kirby saw Chelsea deny newly-promoted Leicester a first point in the Women’s Super League with a 2-0 victory, and move Chelsea into second. Prior to the game Chelsea players and staff joined arms in solidarity with players in the US after allegations of sexual abuse by coach Paul Riley.

Late goals from Pernille Harder and Fran Kirby saw Chelsea deny newly-promoted Leicester a first point in the Women’s Super League as they claim a 2-0 victory.

Promoted Leicester had looked set to be the first WSL team to keep a clean sheet against Chelsea in three years, with a series of superb saves from Foxes keeper Kirstie Levell, but the WSL champions made a breakthrough with just seven minutes from time.

Substitute Harder stabbed home a Jessie Fleming cut-back to finally break the visitors' resistance after 82 minutes.

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Pernille Harder

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Kirby slotted home a second goal in stoppage time, scoring her 50th career goal in the WSL in the 94th minute, and moving Chelsea into second on 12 points.

• Leicester seal promotion to Women's Super League for the first time
• Chelsea wrap up Women's Super League title with a win over Reading
• Big prizes up for grabs in FA Women's Super League with five games left to play for main contenders

Prior to the game Chelsea players and staff joined arms in solidarity with players in the US who have made sexual misconduct allegations against English coach Paul Riley.

Players from opposing teams at four other WSL games joined each other in the centre circle before kick-off.

National Women's Soccer League team North Carolina Courage sacked Riley following the allegations, which he denies.

Chelsea will next travel to Juventus for a Champions League group-stage clash on Wednesday night, while Leicester are in action next on November 3 when they host Everton in the WSL Cup.

Elsewhere, Katie McCabe was the star of the show as Arsenal beat Everton 3-0 to remain top of the Women's Super League table.

McCabe, 26, scored and set one up as the Gunners maintained their perfect start to the season. McCabe opened the scoring with a dipping effort from the edge of the box following a loose clearance.

The Republic of Ireland captain then delivered the corner for Lotte Wubben-Moy to head home just shy of half-time.

Frida Maanum then added a third late to make it five wins from five for Arsenal who are three points clear of Chelsea at the top of the table.

Tottenham slid to third in the table after a 2-1 defeat to Brighton at the People’s Pension Stadium.

Lee Geum-min fired home to give the Seagulls the lead at the halfway mark.

Things went from bad to worse for Spurs when Rachel Williams was sent off for a second bookable offence on 76 minutes.

Victoria Williams would double the host’s advantage in the closing stages (86) only for Kit Graham to cut the arrears almost immediately.

However, Spurs were unable to rouse themselves and, as such, their perfect start to the season came to an end. They are third – on twelve points – behind Chelsea on goal difference.

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