- Khadija Shaw scored the only goal at Kingsmeadow as Manchester City claimed victory
- Gareth Taylor’s team equals Chelsea on points and goal difference
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Manchester City left the Women’s Super League title race wide open by ending Chelsea’s 22-match unbeaten run at home.
Bunny Shaw’s goal in the 14th minute marked the difference between the two teams, who are now tied on points and goal difference at the top of the table.
With this result, City extends its winning streak in the league to eight games, a record for the competition.
Kingsmeadow has not been a happy place for City or manager Gareth Taylor in recent years, with Chelsea winning the last four league games between the two teams here.
Emma Hayes and her team may be feeling aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty when Alex Greenwood tripped Mayra Ramirez in the area on the half-hour.
Manchester City left the race for the Women’s Super League title open after beating Chelsea
City also ended the Blues’ 22-match unbeaten run at Kingsmeadow thanks to Khadija Shaw
Kingsmeadow had not been a happy place for City or boss Gareth Taylor in recent years.
But City were worthy of their victory. Chelsea struggled to create many clear-cut chances before Khiara Keating made a superb save to deny Jelena Cankovic in the 95th minute.
Chelsea had the better of the chances in the early stages but a mistake by Cuthbert allowed the visitors to take the lead in the 14th minute.
The midfielder lost control of the ball in her own half and Jess Park pounced, advancing before playing in Shaw to finish smartly past Hannah Hampton.
Shaw should have put City 2-0 ahead minutes later. Park was the creator once again, playing a delicate pass into the striker’s path, but Hampton was able to push her first attempt around the post.
City were worthy of their 1-0 half-time lead, but Chelsea were furious that referee Abigail Byrne did not award them a penalty before the break.
Ramírez stole possession from Greenwood and entered the area. When the forward was going to shoot, she was caught by Greenwood’s tackle from behind. Byrne believed Greenwood had received the ball, but replays showed otherwise.
Chelsea saw more of the ball in the second half, but it was City who continued to create the best chances in front of goal. Leila Ouahabi found space on the left and sent in a teasing cross for Shaw, but the forward couldn’t get enough contact with her header as she looked the ball wide.
Park was causing Chelsea problems at half-time and the midfielder created another chance for her team when she played in Chloe Kelly on the left. The winger was forced to deflect but still managed to shoot, which Hampton did well to hold on for the second attempt.
Chelsea came within inches of equalizing in the 76th minute when Johanna Rytting Kaneryd returned the ball to Cuthbert inside the area, but her shot flew just wide of the far post.
The hosts increased the pressure in the final minutes, but City and Keating in goal repelled everything that came their way.
The best chance fell to Cankovic, but he couldn’t get enough power behind his close-range volley, which Keating pushed superbly around the post.
Chelsea’s best chance fell to Cankovic, but he couldn’t get enough power behind his close-range volley.
City and Khiara Keating in goal repelled everything he threw at them despite pressure from Chelsea