Kerr at the double as Chelsea routs United in WSL

Forward Sam Kerr netted a brace and Fran Kirby scored her 50th Women's Super League (WSL) goal as champion Chelsea swept aside a sorry Manchester United 6-1 on Sunday.

Published : Sep 26, 2021 19:29 IST

Forward Sam Kerr netted a brace and, Fran Kirby scored her 50th Women's Super League (WSL) goal as champion Chelsea swept aside a sorry Manchester United 6-1 on Sunday.

Chelsea got off to a flying start when Kerr made the most of some shoddy defending from United in the second minute to play in Kirby who, tapped in from close range. Pernille Harder doubled its advantage with a fine solo run and dink in the 24th minute.

The visitor piled more misery on United four minutes before the interval as Kerr and Kirby reversed roles for the Australian international to stab home a third.

United improved after the break and pulled one back through substitute Alessia Russo in the 48th minute. But Chelsea restored its three-goal lead almost immediately when Kerr drove home a cross from the right. Replays, however, suggested the 28-year-old may have been lucky not to be flagged for offside.

Substitutes Drew Pence and Jessie Fleming grabbed a goal each before full time, leaving both sides on six points from their opening three games.

In Sunday's later kickoffs, Jessica Naz sent Spurs to the top of the table when she got the only goal of the game in the 85th minute to secure a 1-0 win over Reading.

Emily Gielnik scored just after halftime as Aston Villa beat Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 and, Tameka Yallop scored a brace on her debut as West Ham thrashed newcomer Leicester City 4-0.

On Saturday, Everton got its first win of the campaign by beating Birmingham City 3-1.

Tottenham tops the table on nine points from three games, with Aston Villa second on seven and Chelsea third on six. Arsenal can go first if it beats Manchester City later on Sunday.