LONDON — Women’s Super League (WSL) leaders Chelsea defeated Arsenal 2-0 to stay top of the standings and move within touching distance of a fourth straight league crown, but Manchester United has not yet given up the chase.
The Red Devils ensured the race will go to the final day next weekend by beating Manchester City 2-1 with a stoppage-time goal from Lucia Garcia, leaving Chelsea two points clear of United on 55 points with one round of games remaining.
The Blues also have the edge over United in goal difference and their fate will be in their own hands when they visit relegation-threatened Reading in their last game next Saturday.
Elsewhere, Chelsea eased past Arsenal, with Guro Reiten putting them ahead after sliding in at the far post to turn in an Eve Perisset cross in the 22nd minute, Reuters reported.
Captain Magdalena Eriksson, who will leave the London club at the end of the season, followed that up by stabbing in a second from close range following a free-kick to pile the pressure on United in the late kick-off.
United started well and took the lead through Hayley Ladd, and when City had goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck sent off before the break for a foul on Nikita Parris, the United faithful were sure the title chase would live on until the final day.
Instead, they had to endure some anxious moments as United keeper Mary Earps was caught out by a deep cross from Filippa Angeldahl which flew into the net, and it took a late close-range strike from Garcia to give them the points.
Fourth-placed City’s defeat means Arsenal are all but certain to finish third as they have a three-point lead and a far superior goal difference.
Bottom side Reading suffered a big blow as they lost 4-1 at Tottenham Hotspur and they now face Chelsea next weekend needing a win to have any chance of staying up.
Reading are 12th on 11 points, two behind Leicester City who lost 2-1 at home to West Ham United, while mid-table Everton beat 10th-placed Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Sweden international Hannah Bennison.
The highest-scoring match of the day saw WSL top scorer Rachel Daly net again to take her total to 21 as her Aston Villa side came back to draw 3-3 with visitors Liverpool.
Man City was barely in the match in the opening stages; before five minutes had elapsed United could have scored three times.
City was unable to cope with United’s energy as they desperately tried to rid themselves of the memory of defeat at Wembley last weekend, while keen to take the title race to the final day.
Man United targeted Yui Hasegawa in the City midfield, permitting her no time in possession.
The Japan international is the person who gets City going with her quick passing and energy but she was hounded whenever the ball went near her, putting Hasegawa and City on the back foot unable to play through United as is their desire.
Considering Man City had a Champions League spot to play for and the chance to end the title challenge of their main rivals, they looked naive.
They allowed United to keep possession with ease, switched off for short corners and aimed clearances to no one, meaning the ball came straight back at them.
With this result City’s Champions League chances have not evaporated, but on the final day they will need an 11-goal swing on goal difference.
It took 20 minutes for the match to turn into a contest. In quick succession, Khadija Shaw had a goalbound shot from eight yards blocked and Chloe Kelly assaulted the post with a volley.
This brought new-found confidence to City, who made the United defence questions to answers but they stoically held their own.
The England head coach, Sarina Wiegman, was in the stands, eager to see who is in form going into the World Cup this summer but equally to ensure no more of her potential call-ups are injured.
