Lauren James returns to haunt Man Utd as Chelsea suffer their first defeat of the season

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Manchester United 1 Chelsea 3

Lauren James returned to haunt her old club and help her new side prove their title with a patient but clinically executed victory as Manchester United look to get their first win over Chelsea.

Quick-fire goals from Sam Kerr and James put Chelsea ahead of the contest early in the second half after a relatively torrid first 45 minutes, before fit-again England striker Alessia Russo pulled one back for United, but Erin Cuthbert sealed the deal for the visitors with a stoppage-time goal. ‘ victory.

The result was a huge disappointment for most of the 6,186 crowd – Manchester United’s biggest ever attendance for a women’s game played away from Old Trafford – on a night when the hosts made a 100 per cent start to the season.

The two sides started the day level on points, but the defending champions played an extra game and Chelsea’s surprise defeat at Liverpool on the opening weekend saw them play to catch up.

Still, it was billed as the first real assessment of United’s progress this term as they look to break into the elusive top three for the first time since reforming the women’s side in 2018.

When these two sides met at Leigh Sports Village last season, it was a humiliating experience for United as they suffered their worst WSL defeat in a 6-1 defeat. Chelsea scored 10 goals in their two league games last season.

This season, Marc Skinner’s side started the campaign looking like they meant it, entering this weekend as early league leaders thanks to an unblemished run of five wins from five – without conceding a league goal.

Defensively, they have improved greatly with the summer arrival from Brighton of Maya Le Tissier – who received her first senior Lioness call-up from Sarina Wiegman on Tuesday – and the return to fitness of her central defensive partner Millie Turner after a months-out. recovery from carotid artery dissection. The duo looked resilient and collected. However, both will be disappointed with their roles in Chelsea’s first two goals.

With no pressure from the visitors, Turner fed the ball straight to Wales’ Sophie Ingle, whose pass picked out Kerr, and the Australian star fired through the legs of Le Tissier to beat the possessed Mary Earps to open the scoring.

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