Manchester City 3-2 Brighton: Shaw double keeps champions' perfect Women's Super League start intact

Reigning Women's Super League champions Manchester City maintained their perfect start to the league season with a breathless 3-2 victory over Brighton, Khadija Shaw starring with a brace.

All five goals came in a frantic first half. Shaw struck twice from Lauren Hemp assists before Niamh Charles made it 3-0 in the 17th minute.

Brighton, who had claimed their first league win of the season against Charlton Athletic last week, refused to lie down and hauled themselves back into the contest with goals from Olivia Garcia and Caitlin Hayes six minutes apart.

Andree Jeglertz's side nevertheless held firm for the remainder to claim a sixth successive league win and stay two points clear of Chelsea at the top.

City opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute, Shaw getting to Hemp's cross ahead of goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie to convert from close range.

The hosts, in full flow, soon stretched their lead. Shaw rose between Hayes and Gabby George to head Hemp's pinpoint delivery into the net, and Charles followed up almost immediately with a finish into the bottom-left corner to make it 3-0.

Shaw, Hemp and Grace Clinton all went close to a fourth before the half-hour mark, but as City eased off, Brighton found their way into the game. Garcia turned Fran Kirby's cross home in the 31st minute, and Hayes, left unmarked from a corner, then beat goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita with a fine header to reduce the deficit to one.

The tempo dropped after the break, with City's clearest opportunity coming from a low Shaw effort. The leaders saw out the result to record another vital home win.

In-form Shaw keeps City on top

This may not have been one of City's most convincing displays of the season, but they found a way to win. Khadija Shaw, enjoying one of the most prolific spells of her career, has been central to their superb start in the WSL.

Shaw has scored in each of her last six league starts, equalling her longest such run in the competition (six matches between February and April 2024). The Jamaican forward has now reached 89 goals in 85 starts in England's top flight.

City needed every bit of their striker's form to hold on to top spot, as Chelsea thrashed Tottenham 6-2 in a London derby at Stamford Bridge. Lauren James and Ellie Carpenter each scored twice, while substitutes Sjoeke Nusken and Maika Hamano also got on the scoresheet.

The result also made it a historic day for Sonia Bompastor in her 50th WSL match. The French coach has collected 125 points from her first 50 games in the competition, overtaking Joe Montemurro (123) as the manager with the most points from their opening 50 Women's Super League matches.

Elsewhere, Manchester United beat Charlton Athletic 3-1 for a third consecutive win. The Red Devils went ahead through goals from Ella Toone and Andrea Medina, and although Leah Davidson pulled one back, Julia Zigiotti Olme settled matters in the 31st minute.