WSL leaders Man City vs London City: 2-1 win seals nine-point gap

LONDON: Manchester City strengthened their grip on the Women’s Super League title race with a hard-fought 2-1 win vs London City Lionesses on Sunday, stretching their lead at the top to nine points.

Striker Bunny Shaw was the hero once again, scoring a late winner to secure the three points for the leaders. The victory comes at a crucial moment, with Chelsea having slipped up at home vs Arsenal on Saturday, losing 2-0 and handing City a golden opportunity to widen the gap.

The match got off to a flying start for City. In the 11th minute, Vivianne Miedema set up Kerolin with a perfectly timed run, and the Brazilian striker confidently finished for her third league goal of the season.

But London City, impressively competitive in their first top-flight campaign, refused to fold. Isobel Godwin came close twice, striking the woodwork before Freya Godfrey unleashed a stunning shot into the top corner in the 68th minute to level the scores.

The second half saw City struggle to break down a resilient Lionesses defence, but their persistence paid off in the dying minutes. A corner was poorly cleared, allowing Shaw to lash the ball into the net for her 13th league goal, clinching the win and keeping City firmly in control at the summit.

Manchester City capitalised on Chelsea's 2-0 defeat by Arsenal on Saturday by extending their lead at the top of the WSL with a 1-0 win over London City Lionesses.

Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw's 86th-minute strike was enough to earn victory — Andree Jeglertz's side are now nine points… pic.twitter.com/6bRPhqBH39

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) January 25, 2026

The result leaves City on 36 points, nine ahead of second-placed Chelsea (27) and a point clear of third-placed Arsenal. With a commanding lead and crucial momentum, City look well on their way to ending Chelsea’s six-year title reign.

Kerolin vs London City Lionesses:

▪️89 minutes
▪️70 touches
▪️1 goal
▪️32/40 accurate passes
▪️7 touches in opposition box
▪️2 tackles
▪️5 recoveries
▪️50% ground duels won

Player of the Match. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/j5jr4L9EJk

— MCWFC Xtra (@MCWFCXtra) January 25, 2026

Elsewhere in the WSL, Liverpool registered their first win of the season, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at home thanks to Mia Enderby’s two stoppage-time goals, though they remain at the bottom of the table. West Ham United also recorded a 2-1 away win vs Leicester City, keeping the relegation battle tight.

Manchester United climbed to fourth after a flurry of second-half goals saw them beat Aston Villa 4-1 away, just a point behind Arsenal in the top-four race.