Manchester City Women have taken a giant leap toward the Women’s Super League title after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over London City Lionesses at the Joie Stadium.
Capitalizing on Chelsea’s slip-up against Arsenal, Gareth Taylor’s side moved to 36 points, establishing a massive nine-point lead at the summit of the table. With only nine rounds remaining, the title race is now firmly in the hands of the Manchester club.
The Kerolin Connection
The deadlock was broken in the 11th minute by Brazilian star Kerolin Nicoli. Showing her elite movement, she connected with a clinical pass from Vivianne Miedema to slot home her fourth goal of the season. The early lead highlighted City’s dominance, though the visitors refused to go down without a fight.
Late Drama at Joie Stadium
London City Lionesses stunned the home crowd in the 68th minute when Freya Godfrey equalized after a brilliant assist from the veteran Kosovare Asllani. For a moment, it looked like City would drop two vital points, but the league’s top scorer had the final word.
In the 86th minute, Khadija “Bunny” Shaw rose highest to power home a header, securing the three points and sparking wild celebrations.
The Ultimate Showdown: City vs. Chelsea
Manchester City’s attention now turns to February 1st, in what is being billed as the “Title Decider.” City will host Chelsea at home; a victory for Kerolin and her teammates would effectively end the Blues’ hopes of retaining their crown.
WSL Standings – Top 3
| Pos | Team | Points | Played |
| 1st | Manchester City | 36 | 13 |
| 2nd | Chelsea | 27 | 13 |
| 3rd | Arsenal | 26 | 13 |
Laurinda Jocias is a football writer covering English women’s football, including the Women’s Super League. Her work focuses on players, clubs, and the continued development of the women’s game in the UK.
