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Sam Kerr scored on her first Chelsea appearance for 20 months as the champions maintained their perfect start to the Women’s Super League season with a 3-1 win away to Aston Villa.
The Australia international scrambled the ball home in stoppage time after being sent on as a substitute in the second half, as Sonia Bompastor’s side were made to work for their victory by a dogged home performance at Villa Park. Aggie Beever-Jones had earlier given Chelsea the lead with her second of the season before Ebony Salmon levelled. A Missy Bo Kearns own goal made it 2-1 before Kerr capped her comeback from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Manchester United bounced back from their Champions League disappointment by thrashing London City Lionesses 5-1. Marc Skinner’s five-star side returned to the top of the table three days after their qualifying first-leg defeat against Norwegian side Brann.
First-half goals from defenders Maya Le Tissier and Jayde Riviere were added to by Melvine Malard’s quickfire brace after the interval in Bromley. The former United forward Nikita Parris scored a consolation for the hosts after Millie Turner was carried off on a stretcher before Jess Park – making her first WSL start since arriving from Manchester City – added a superb fifth.
Liverpool’s poor start to the season continued as they were beaten 1-0 away by 10-player Leicester to leave their new head coach, Gareth Taylor, still searching for a first point.
The Reds had been thumped 4-1 by Everton at Anfield in their opening match and things got no better as Emily van Egmond’s headed goal just before the hour mark sent them to a second defeat in two matches. Van Egmond nodded past goalkeeper Faye Kirby from Janice Cayman’s fine cross from the right. It came minutes after Leicester’s Shannon O’Brien had been sent off after being shown a second yellow card.
