WSL: Shaw scores brace to maintain Man City’s perfect start, Chelsea hammers Spurs

Manchester City's Khadija Shaw celebrates scoring her side’s first goal. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Manchester City held off a spirited comeback from Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday to ​secure a 3-2 win that maintained its perfect start to ‌the Women’s Super League season, with Chelsea close ​behind after a convincing win over Tottenham ⁠Hotspur.

City raced into a 3-0 lead by the 17th minute thanks to a brace from Khadija Shaw and a goal ‌from Niamh Charles, and though Brighton pulled two goals back before the break through Olivia Garcia ‌and Caitlin Hayes, neither side managed to find ‌the ⁠net again in the second half.

City has 18 ⁠points from six games, two ahead of Chelsea after its 6-2 demolition of Tottenham.

Lauren James and Ellie Carpenter both scored twice for ​the Blues against Spurs, ‌who only let in two goals while collecting three wins and a draw in their first four games but have now conceded six in each of ‌their last two league clashes.

London City Lionesses remained third ​after a 2-1 win at home to Everton, while Manchester United’s 3-1 win over bottom ⁠side Charlton Athletic left it in fifth place on 10 points, behind Tottenham on goal difference.

Aston Villa put ‌daylight between itself and the drop zone by coming back from a goal down to beat Liverpool 2-1 and record its first victory of the season to move into 10th spot, above Crystal Palace, which lost 1-0 at home to West Ham United, on goal ‌difference.

Arsenal’s stumbling start to the season continued on Saturday as it ​was held to a 1-1 draw by Birmingham City to leave it winless in its last ⁠five WSL games, fans at the Emirates greeting the final ⁠whistle with boos after the Gunners had to come from behind to salvage a point.

Arsenal’s streak ‌of five league games without a win is its worst in the WSL era, and next up ​is a North London derby against Tottenham.