Women's Super League
Arsenal WomenArsenal Women2Everton WomenEverton Women1

Women's Super League: Arsenal Women 2-1 Everton Ladies

By Tom GarryBBC Sport
Highlights: Arsenal beat Everton to edge closer to title

Leaders Arsenal moved within one win of the Women's Super League title as they beat Everton at a sizzling Meadow Park.

The Gunners took full advantage of their game in hand on Manchester City in second, moving them four points clear with two matches to go.

Defender Louise Quinn prodded Arsenal in front from an early corner, before Vivianne Miedema dinked in the second.

Everton's Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah pulled one back from an indirect free-kick but Arsenal secured the three points.

They will clinch the title if they beat Brighton at the Amex Stadium on 28 April (12:15 BST), or if Man City fail to beat bottom side Yeovil Town later on the same day.

But any slip-up at Brighton could set up a final-day decider when Arsenal host City on 11 May.

Arsenal - the most successful side in the history of English women's football - have not won the title since 2012.

They took the lead quickly against 10th-placed Everton through Quinn, although the final touch appeared to come from the Toffees' Abbey-Leigh Stringer at the near post.

The WSL's top scorer Miedema showed composure and skill to clip in the second - her 30th goal of the season - after beating two defenders in the area.

Everton reduced the deficit after the break after a bizarre lapse in concentration from Arsenal and Netherlands keeper Sari van Veenedaal, when she mistakenly picked up Leah Williamson's routine backpass, and the lively Boye-Hlorkah rifled in from close range following the free-kick.

Arsenal went closest to adding the game's fourth goal, but Dominique Bloodworth lashed over from just outside the box.

Both sides could have had a player sent off after Stringer's poor challenge on England's Beth Mead, as Arsenal's Danielle van de Donk put her hand on referee Stacey Pearson in complaint, but both players were only shown yellow cards.

The result left Arsenal with 16 wins from 18 league games and without a draw, with unbeaten City's five league draws this term looking like a key factor in the title race.

Line-ups

Arsenal Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1van Veenendaal
  • 17Evans
  • 6Williamson
  • 16Quinn
  • 2VejeSubstituted forCarterat 80'minutes
  • 10Little
  • 20Bloodworth
  • 23MeadSubstituted forSchnaderbeckat 81'minutes
  • 7van de DonkBooked at 56mins
  • 15McCabe
  • 11MiedemaSubstituted forKemmeat 90'minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Mitchell
  • 4Arnth Jensen
  • 9Carter
  • 21Kemme
  • 22Schnaderbeck
  • 34Harper

Everton Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Levell
  • 14Hinds
  • 20FinniganBooked at 64mins
  • 5Worm
  • 3Turner
  • 12James
  • 13StringerBooked at 56minsSubstituted forChanceat 88'minutes
  • 7Boye-Hlorkah
  • 8Kaagman
  • 16CainSubstituted forHughesat 62'minutes
  • 10MagillSubstituted forBrownlieat 84'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Bryson
  • 17Chance
  • 22Bruinenberg
  • 24Brownlie
  • 25Flaherty
  • 28Hughes
Referee:
Stacey Pearson
Attendance:
2,003

Match Stats

Home TeamArsenal WomenAway TeamEverton Women
Possession
Home59%
Away41%
Shots
Home11
Away2
Shots on Target
Home3
Away2
Corners
Home6
Away7
Fouls
Home4
Away6

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Arsenal Women 2, Everton Ladies 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Arsenal Women 2, Everton Ladies 1.

  3. Post update

    Offside, Arsenal Women. Tabea Kemme tries a through ball, but Daniëlle van de Donk is caught offside.

  4. Post update

    Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Megan Finnigan.

  5. Post update

    Kim Little (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Olivia Chance (Everton Ladies).

  7. Post update

    Corner, Everton Ladies. Conceded by Katie McCabe.

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, Arsenal Women. Tabea Kemme replaces Vivianne Miedema.

  9. Post update

    Attempt missed. Daniëlle van de Donk (Arsenal Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Danielle Carter with a cross.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Everton Ladies. Olivia Chance replaces Abbey-Leigh Stringer.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Leah Williamson (Arsenal Women).

  12. Post update

    Danielle Turner (Everton Ladies) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Everton Ladies. Emma Brownlie replaces Simone Magill.

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, Arsenal Women. Viktoria Schnaderbeck replaces Beth Mead.

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Arsenal Women. Danielle Carter replaces Katrine Veje.

  16. Post update

    Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Abbey-Leigh Stringer.

  17. Post update

    Lisa Evans (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (Everton Ladies).

  19. Post update

    Offside, Everton Ladies. Danielle Turner tries a through ball, but Elise Hughes is caught offside.

  20. Post update

    Attempt missed. Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kim Little with a cross.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Arsenal Women18160265135248
2Man City Women18135051153644
3Chelsea Women18106235122336
4B'ham City Women1811162517834
5Reading Women188372924527
6Bristol City Women197481632-1625
7West Ham Women1862102332-920
8Liverpool Women1861111835-1719
9Brighton Women1834111234-2213
10Everton Women1823131133-229
11Yeovil United1721141048-38-3
View full Women's Super League table

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