FA WSL round-up: Chloe Kelly’s late goal keeps Man City title hopes alive & the race for the third UWCL spot remains hot

Topics: Chelsea, Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby, Manchester City, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly, Arsenal, Vivianne Miedema, Manchester United, Lauren James

Matchday 18 of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League saw Manchester City struggle against a tricky Reading side, Arsenal win the North London Derby again and more.

Gareth Taylor’s Manchester City had its revenge against Kelly Chambers’ Reading on Saturday thanks to a Chloe Kelly 87th minute winner.

The Royals, who forced a draw against the Cityzens in November 2020, were just minutes away from ending the English giant’s hopes to lift the 2020/21 FA Women's Super League title at the end of the season. However, a mazy run from Lauren Hemp that left four defenders in the dust followed by a squared ball to Kelly kept Man City in contention to win the title.

@lauren__hemp’s incredible run @Chloe_Kelly98's finish!

Hemp’s winding run makes easy work for Kelly who stabs the ball home!#BarclaysFAWSL pic.twitter.com/iYrPdSmS4k
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) March 27, 2021

On the other hand, Australian forward Samantha Kerr scored a brace against Aston Villa on Sunday to keep Chelsea at the top of the table.

Turning to the battle for the third UEFA Women’s Champions League spot, Arsenal took down rivals Tottenham 3-0, and Manchester United defeated West Ham 2-0. Only three points separate the two teams, and Arsenal has a game in hand. Also, the Gunners have a superior goal differential that could separate the two by the end of the season.

Top five teams in the FA WSL up to March 30, 2021

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Who are the three top scorers in the FA WSL?

Vivianne Miedema scored a stunning goal in the North London Derby last weekend to stay at the top of the WSL goalscoring charts with 15 goals. However, Kerr has closed in on Miedema with 14 goals after her brace against Villa on Sunday. Despite not scoring, English forward Fran Kirby assisted both goals. The Chelsea duo has combined for nine top-flight goals this season, a new record for goal combinations between two players in a single WSL campaign.

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FA WSL top headlines

According to Opta, Hemp has either scored or assisted at least once in each of her last nine WSL appearances, the joint-longest such run in the competition’s history. She has five goals and six assists in her last nine league appearances.
The Second City Derby between Birmingham City and Aston Villa has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 28 at 2 p.m. ET.
Nineteen-year-old Lauren James scored Man Utd’s first-ever goal at Old Trafford as the Red Devils beat West Ham United.
Australia’s Hayley Raso scored a perfect hattrick for Everton in a 5-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.
Arsenal’s Katie McCabe’s assist against Tottenham Hotspur boosted her to the No. 1 position in the assists table over Chloe Kelly.

Top FA WSL games to watch, April 3-4

Matchday 19 of the Women’s Super League will unfold this weekend, and the two games to watch this week will both be played on Sunday, April 4. The first one will begin at 7:30 a.m. ET and feature Chelsea and Birmingham City at Kingsmeadow. The second one will start at 9 a.m. ET and see Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester City at the Hive Stadium.