WSL results: Arsenal beat Aston Villa to keep pressure on Chelsea, as Blues secure win at Birmingham
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ByEurosport
Updated 01/05/2022 at 21:54 GMT
After Manchester City's comprehensive win over Brighton, United had to respond and did so with a straightforward win over West Ham. Later on Sunday, Arsenal crushed Aston Villa 7-0 to keep the pressure up on league leaders Chelsea, and Leicester City shared the points with a goalless draw at home with Reading.
Arsenal women celebrate
Image credit: Getty Images
Manchester United moved back into the top three of the WSL following a comfortable 3-0 win over West Ham, while Arsenal crushed Aston Villa.
Having dropped out of the Champions League places after being leapfrogged by rivals City 24 hours earlier, Marc Skinner’s side knew they had to respond.
It took just 12 minutes for the Red Devils to get off the mark, as Leah Galton found space on the left-hand side before putting in a cross which Martha Thomas was able to head home from close range.
Former Hammers forward Thomas then turned provider on 20 minutes, causing her former side more misery as her square pass was turned into her own net by the luckless Grace Fisk.
Galton added third just after half time, stabbing home from Alessio Russo’s cross from the right.
The result keeps United in contention to feature in next season’s Champions League with one match to play but they have played a game more than their local rivals and face a daunting trip to title-chasing Chelsea in their final match.
Arsenal have kept in touch with Chelsea at the top as five second-half goals took them to a 7-0 home win over Aston Villa.
Vivianne Miedema scored the opening goals, first in the ninth minute and then four minutes later. An own goal from Rachel Corsie made it three early in the first half, before Beth Mead made it four just after the hour mark.
Lotte Wubben-Moy scored five minutes later, and late goals from Stina Blackstenius and Nikita Parris rounded off the result.
Arsenal were a point behind Chelsea, with the Blues enjoying a single-point lead as both teams stand on 20 games played.
Leicester City missed out on the chance to secure their Super League survival but could only manage a goalless draw at home to Reading.
Reading took a point, leaving them with a chance of finishing fifth at the end of the season.
Chelsea visited St Andrew's and had Pernille Harder to thank for victory of Birmingham.
A single penalty in the 71st minute restablished their four-point lead with two games to play.
"First half, I thought we played stressed," Chelsea boss Hayes said to Sky Sports. "We rushed things because the goal didn't come.
"It's one of those games where you know it's going to be tight and you hope you get the early goal. And when you don't, the opponent gets buoyed.
"But job done - Pernille Harder has composure in the biggest moments and I'm delighted."
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