WSL: Arsenal stun Man City to blow title race open, Chelsea close in at the top

Arsenal re-ignited the Women's Super League with a 2-1 win over Manchester City on Sunday, throwing a lifeline to Chelsea in a title race that appeared to be over.

With 21 of their 22 league games played, City lead the standings with 52 points, three ahead of Chelsea and five ahead of Arsenal, but the Blues have a game in hand and destroyed City's goal difference advantage with an 8-0 thrashing of already-relegated Bristol City late on Sunday.

Chelsea's final two games are against Tottenham Hotspur on May 15 and Manchester United three days later, while City face Aston Villa on the final day of the season.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes admitted defeat in the league on Wednesday after her stuttering side's 4-3 loss to Liverpool, but Sunday's results gave them new hope for a fifth league title in a row.

Lauren Hemp, who recently signed a three-year contract extension with City, broke the deadlock in the 17th minute with a spectacular turn and shot that caught Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger off guard and flew into the net.

City then made the mistake of taking their foot off the gas in the second half, and Sweden striker Blackstenius came off the bench to stun the home crowd by equalising in the 89th minute and netting the winner three minutes later.

Chelsea needed that result in Manchester, and they ruthlessly dispatched Bristol City in the late kickoff, with Norwegian winger Guro Reiten scoring four and Aggie Beever-Jones adding two in Hayes' final home game in charge.

Chelsea's goal glut allowed them to wipe out City's goal difference advantage, and the Blues now have a one-goal lead over their title rivals, which could be crucial in the final few games.

Earlier in the day, West Ham United and Leicester City drew 1-1, while Manchester United's preparations for next week's FA Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur were hampered by a 1-0 loss at Liverpool.

That defeat came a day after Spurs rallied from two goals down in the first 15 minutes to draw 2-2 at Everton, and Alisha Lehmann scored the only goal as Aston Villa won 1-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion.

SportsLigue