Football
Sophie Lawson 1y

Man United extend WSL lead thanks to Alessia Russo hat trick

Manchester United seized upon their chance to increase their lead at the top of the Women's Super League with a resounding 5-1 win against Leicester City thanks in no small part to a hat trick from Alessia Russo.

With both Chelsea and Arsenal in Conti Cup final action, leading to their games against Brighton and Liverpool respectively being postponed, United moved three points clear of Manchester City. Chelsea are four points behind in third place, having played two fewer, while Arsenal are nine points behind also having two games in hand.

Russo scored twice in the first half to put United in control before Remy Siemsen pulled one back for Leicester. But England international Russo completed her treble soon after the break before turning provider, teeing up Leah Galton for United's fourth before Lucia Garcia came off the bench to wrap up the win six minutes from time.

A Bunny Shaw hat trick saw Manchester City fightback to win 3-1 against struggling Tottenham Hotspur and move above Chelsea into second place. A Celin Bizet Ildhusoy rocket on 31 minutes put Spurs in front before Jamaica international Shaw, who already had 10 WSL goals to her name before kick off, equalised in first-half stoppage time. Two minutes into the second half Shaw scored again, this time from a penalty, to put City ahead, before completing her impressive solo display with an 83rd-minute strike.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa leapfrogged Everton into fifth with a 2-0 victory. Kenza Dali gave Villa a fifth-minute lead after combining with Rachel Daly, before a 67th-minute Megan Finnigan own goal sealed the points for Villa.

Reading moved away from trouble at the foot of the table with a 2-1 win against West Ham United in which Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney starred. Charlie Wellings scored from a one-two with Rachel Rowe to put Reading in front on 66 minutes before Viviane Asseyi levelled proceedings 10 minutes later, getting the better of Moloney, who had frustrated West Ham all afternoon.

Rowe snatched all three points for Reading with a rocket from outside the box. That lifts Reading from ninth to seventh and puts a cushion between them and an improving Leicester at the bottom.

^ Back to Top ^