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The WSL dished up its usual servings of drama and excitement in the latest round of matches.
Chelsea’s narrow win over Manchester United took the headlines as it sent the Blues to the top of the table at United’s expense. Arsenal, meanwhile, were big winners over struggling Reading, with Manchester City also squeezing the top four with a late win of their own.
Elsewhere, Liverpool got an important victory over free-falling Tottenham, while Leicester continue to build positive momentum, and Aston Villa are putting distance between themselves and the bottom seven to take an ever firmer grip on the ‘best of the rest’ title this season.
WSL results – gameweek 15
Read on to see who made the cut for 90min’s team of the week…
GK: Janina Leitzig (Leicester) – The German stopper has already been a revelation since arriving in January and directly contributed to getting another point closer to safety. She made two big second half saves to preserve the clean sheet and draw, one in the 89th minute.
RB: Emma Koivisto (Liverpool) – A goal and assist in only Liverpool’s second WSL win in five games this calendar year made a huge and put more distance between the Reds and the bottom.
CB: Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea) – Sam Kerr took the headlines thanks a delightful goal, but Chelsea’s narrow win over Manchester United was built on a solid defensive performance. The Canadian completely nullified an in-form Alessia Russo.
CB: Millie Bright (Chelsea) – It was more of the same from Buchanan’s centre-back partner. Bright wore the captain’s armband for Chelsea and didn’t give United a sniff.
LB: Jess Carter (Chelsea) – The versatile defender put in a very solid shift at left-back, all the more impressive when that seemed to be Manchester United’s best avenue of creativity.
RM: Missy Bo Kearns (Liverpool) – The home-grown favourite scored what proved to be her team’s winning goal, side-footing a slick Liverpool move into the net.
CM: Ruby Mace (Leicester) – The Foxes frustrated Everton throughout and a major part of that was the monstrous performance of their on-loan teenage midfielder. She won the ball back 24 times during the game with tackles, interceptions and recoveries.
CM: Leah Williamson (Arsenal) – Usually a centre-back, the England skipper pushed forward into midfield and controlled the game. She even scored for the first time at club level in over a year.
LM: Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa) – Another two assists in Aston Villa’s crunch win over West Ham took her WSL tally for the season to seven – only Guro Reiten now has more. But all of the Scotland winger’s assists have now come in the last six WSL games alone.
ST: Frida Maanum (Arsenal) – With Stina Blackstenius unwell in the buildup and only on the bench, the versatile Norwegian was pushed forward into the ‘number nine’ role and absolutely took her chance by leading the line and making it 2-0 just before half-time.
ST: Khadija Shaw (Man City) – Her 25th and 26th goals of 2022/23 in all competitions set a new club record for most goals in a single season. The latter was the 89th minute winner over Brighton that keeps City well in the fight for a Champions League place.
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