Chelsea are on track to win their fifth straight Women's Super League title after defeating Everton thanks to two controversial penalties.
Toffees defender Claire Wheeler conceded both spot-kicks for challenges on Joanna Ritting-Canellid and Chelsea's record buyer Mayra Ramirez, but upon closer inspection each decision became harsher. Looked.
Wheeler appeared to steal the ball when he tackled Ritting Canellid before standing on his feet on the follow-through, but his contact with Ramirez during the second spot kick was minimal at best.
Guro Leiten calmly converted both penalties and Erin Cuthbert completed a fine team move to score the third goal late on as Chelsea secured a record-extending 22nd successive WSL home win.
Emma Hayes' side had been overtaken by Manchester City at the end of Sunday's game, but with victory they regained top spot. Won 2-0 The sky above Leicester.
Chelsea, who are three points clear at the top of the table, host Gareth Taylor's City in their next league game on Friday 16 February. This is a big match in the WSL title race and will be broadcast live on BBC Two.
Meanwhile, the defeat left Everton in 10th place, five points behind them, and manager Brian Sorensen was sent off for making comments to the referee late in the game.
Blues have the upper hand but need a little help along the way.
WSL champions for the past four seasons, and seven of the past nine, Chelsea have unsurprisingly excelled throughout against a motivated but dominant side. I got it.
There was no arguing that they deserved to win, outscoring the Toffees 16-3 despite not having a single shot on target.
However, Everton had legitimate grounds to contest both spot-kick decisions against them, as Wheeler was on the wrong side of two highly controversial decisions.
Norwegian winger Leiten converted the first penalty just before the half-hour mark, and although Aurora Galli scored from a cross from Lykke Madsen, a golden opportunity to equalize was wasted, but Chelsea were always in the lead. I held it.
It was a close call for Everton as the hosts were in complete control of the second period, with Ritting Canerido and Lauren James capitalizing on good opportunities to cut their lead to two points.
The second goal came eventually, but again in controversial circumstances, with Colombian international striker Ramirez making his first appearance since starting for Chelsea. UK record price movementswent down under slight pressure from Wheeler.
Leiten scored again from the spot and Chelsea's superb third goal, a classy passing move featuring some beautiful one-touch football from Cuthbert, was hard to fault.
By that point, Toffees manager Sorensen had already been given a red flag and will almost certainly be banished from the touchline when Everton host relegation rivals West Ham in two weeks' time.
The Merseysiders are on a four-game losing streak in the league and have lost each of their last nine meetings with Chelsea, with the Blues scoring three or more goals in each of those wins.
lineup
chelsea women
formation 4-2-3-1
- twenty fourhampton
- 12Lawrence
- 7carter
- 39Bjorn
- twenty onecharles
- twenty twocuthbertReplacementKankovichin 89 minutesminutes
- 8leupolz
- 19Ritting KanereedReplacementKirbyin 68 minutesminutes
- TenjamesBooked in 65 minutesReplacementNuskenin 78 minutesminutes
- 11ReitenReplacementbeaver jonesin 79 minutesminutes
- 35RamirezReplacementfishelin 79 minutesminutes
substitute
- 1musovic
- 2fishel
- FiveIngle
- 6Nusken
- 14Kirby
- 15pelisse
- 26buchanan
- 28Kankovich
- 33beaver jones
everton women
formation 3-4-3
- 1brosnanI made a reservation for 26 minutes.
- 8vanhavemaat
- 20Finnigan
- 27Stenevik
- Tenvenison
- 7wheelerI made a reservation for 26 minutes.ReplacementOlesenin 78 minutesminutes
- twenty oneKuhl
- twenty twoGari
- 19painReplacementhopein 79 minutesminutes
- 18piedmont
- 26madsenReplacementBissellin 58 minutesminutes
substitute
- 11Bissell
- 13heart
- 15dale
- 17hope
- twenty fivesnois
- 30wilding
- 47Olesen
live text
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Game over, Chelsea Women 3, Everton Women 0.
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At the end of the second half, Chelsea Women 3, Everton Women 0.
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Offside, Chelsea Women. Schake Nüsken was ruled offside.
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Substitution, Chelsea Women. Erin Cuthbert was replaced by Jelena Kankovich.
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Attempt saved. Mia Fishel (Chelsea Women)'s header from the left side of the six-yard box was saved in the bottom left corner. Erin Cuthbert assisted on the cross.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Emma Bissell conceded a goal.
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Attempt failed. Agnes Beaver-Jones (Chelsea Women) took a left-footed shot from outside the box, but it went wide of the corner kick.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Megan Finnigan admitted.
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goal! Chelsea Women 3, Everton Women 0. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) fired her right-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom left corner. Supported by Mia Fishel.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. She was recognized by Courtney Brosnan.
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Attempt saved. Mia Fishel (Chelsea Women's) left-footed shot from close range was saved in the bottom left corner.
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Attempt blocked. Mia Fishel (Chelsea Women)'s right-footed shot from close range was blocked. Supported by Agnes Beaver Jones.
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Substitution, Everton Women. Lucy Hope replaces Heather Payne.
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Substitution, Chelsea Women. Agnes Beaver-Jones replaces Guro Leiten.
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Substitution, Chelsea Women. Mayra Ramirez was replaced by Mia Fischel.
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Substitution, Chelsea Women. Lauren James will be replaced by Shoke Nusken.
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Substitution, Everton Women. Claire Wheeler is replaced by Caroline Olesen.
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Offside, Chelsea Women. Fran Kirby was caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Aurora Galli (Everton Women) took a header from the center of the box, but she had it blocked. Elise Stenevik assisted on the cross.
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Foul by Ashley Lawrence (Chelsea Women).