A roundup of WSL results — all of the action in the Women’s Super League — from the opening weekend of the 2020-21 WSL season…
[ MORE: Transfer news: Pogba back to Juventus; Thiago to stay at Bayern ]
Arsenal 6-1 Reading
Arsenal entered the season as the clear third-best side in the WSL behind Chelsea and Man City (or Man City and Chelsea), but the Gunners were the most impressive side on the opening weekend.
Jill Roord bagged a hat trick, Vivianne Miedema got herself a brace, and Kim Little scored once herself to send Arsenal top of the table. The only blemish on their record was the late consolation goal scored by former Gunner Danielle Carter in the 90th minute.
Man United 1-1 Chelsea
Chelsea looked to be headed for a season-opening win over Manchester United, but the Red Devils grabbed a late equalizer to steal a point for themselves and hand the Blues the first blow in this season’s title chase.
Sam Kerr put Emma Hayes’ side ahead after 25 minutes, and her goal stood up as the potential winner for more than 50 minutes. It wasn’t to be on Sunday, though, as Leah Galton tapped the ball home from close range in the 79th minute to upset the applecart.
Aston Vila 0-2 Man City
Georgia Stanway bagged a first-half hat trick, and that’s all Man City would need to defeat Villa for a leg-up on Chelsea in the title race. It was 2-0 by the 21st minute, at which point City went into cruise control and allowed only one golden scoring chance in the second half. Fortunately for City, Diana Silva curled her effort wide and that was that.
Elsewhere in WSL
Bristol City 0-4 Everton
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Birmingham City
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 West Ham United