WSL 2025–26 Matchweek 2 Recap: Big Scores and Notable Comebacks Steal the Spotlight
Arsenal and Man United hit five-star performances, Leicester City pull off a shock win, and new arrivals continue to make impact — full matchweek 2 breakdown with stats and standout players.
Overview
Matchweek 2 of the 2025–26 FA Women's Super League delivered 22 goals across six fixtures (3.7 per match), topping the opening weekend's output. Four clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham – maintained perfect 2–0–0 starts to pull ahead in the table.
Champions Chelsea were made to work in a 3–1 away win, as returning star Sam Kerr scored her 100th club goal in stoppage time. Newly promoted London City Lionesses had a challenging home debut, thrashed 5–1 by a clinical Manchester United side.
The weekend's big surprise came at the King Power Stadium, where Leicester City (down to 10 players) snatched a 1–0 upset over Liverpool.
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur brought Everton back down to earth with a solid win at Goodison Park, and Manchester City got off the mark by coming from behind to beat Brighton.
Attendance figures varied widely – from 6,473 at Goodison Park to a few thousand at smaller venues – reflecting both growing interest and remaining disparities in WSL audiences.
Match-by-Match Breakdown
West Ham United 1–5 Arsenal
Venue: Chigwell Construction Stadium (Dagenham, Essex) | Attendance: 3,483
Arsenal roared back to dispatch West Ham 5–1, making it two high-scoring wins in two. A defensive mix-up led to an early own goal by Daphne van Domselaar (5’) to put West Ham 1–0 up despite not registering a shot. Stina Blackstenius equalised by 21’ and from there it was one-way traffic. Arsenal added three second-half goals before stoppage time through Frida Maanum and Caitlin Foord, before Alessia Russo struck twice late (90’ and 90+3’, the latter a penalty) to complete the rout.
Key Stats that Influenced the Outcome
Chance Creation Gulf: Arsenal generated 5 big chances to West Ham’s 0.
Shot Conversion: 5 goals from 6 shots on target (83%); West Ham had 0 shots on target (their goal was the own goal).
Possession & Pressure: Arsenal 59% possession; 429 passes to 262; 11 corners to 1, culminating in a late penalty from relentless pressure.
Player Spotlight — Alessia Russo (Arsenal, ST): Led the line brilliantly and earned a late brace. Movement, hold-up and pressing stood out; her two goals capped a dominant display.
Manchester City 2–1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Venue: Joie Stadium (Manchester) | Attendance: TBC
Manchester City earned their first win of the season, coming from behind to edge Brighton 2–1. The visitors led on 14’ when Fran Kirby found space and finished past Khiara Keating. City regrouped after the break: Khadija “Bunny” Shaw levelled on 58’ with a diving header from Leila Ouahabi’s cross, and Yui Hasegawa finished a slick move on 74’ for the winner. Brighton competed well early, but City’s extra quality told as they avoided a second straight stumble.
Key Stats that Influenced the Outcome
Second-Half Turnaround: City flipped the match after the interval, out-shooting Brighton 13–5 in the second half (18–8 overall) and nudging possession to ~52%.
Attacking Depth: Aoba Fujino came on and assisted fellow Japanese international Hasegawa for the decisive goal.
Defensive Adjustments: A switch to a 3-5-2 gave City more control; Alex Greenwood marshalled a back three that limited Brighton after the early setback.
Player Spotlight — Khadija Shaw (Manchester City, FW): Relentless No. 9 — match-high 5 shots and 15 touches in the box, 11 duels won, and a goal to cap a dominant display.
Aston Villa 1–3 Chelsea
Venue: Villa Park (Birmingham) | Attendance: 4,994
Champions Chelsea opened the weekend by holding off a stubborn Villa side 3–1 at Villa Park. Aggie Beever-Jones put the Blues ahead early (22’), but Villa’s Ebony Salmon equalised 12 minutes later against the run of play. Chelsea regained the lead in the second half when a Villa defensive mix-up led to an own goal at 55’. In stoppage time, substitute Sam Kerr marked her long-awaited return from injury with a close-range finish – her 100th goal for Chelsea – to seal the points. Villa’s organised defence made the visitors work hard, but ultimately Chelsea’s superior chance creation told.
Key Stats that Influenced the Outcome
Big Chances: Chelsea carved out 6 big chances to Villa’s 3, converting 2 vs Villa’s 0.
Shot Efficiency: Chelsea scored 3 of their 6 shots on target (50% conversion), while Villa netted 1 from 4 on target.
Set-Piece Threat: Chelsea earned 9 corners to Villa’s 2; persistent pressure finally told late on.
Player Spotlight — Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa – FW): Bright spark in a 1–3 defeat — scored Villa’s only goal v Chelsea, led the match with six shots, joint-most on target (2), and eight touches in the box.
Everton 0–2 Tottenham Hotspur
Venue: Goodison Park (Liverpool) | Attendance: 6,473
Before 6,473 fans at Goodison Park, Tottenham delivered a professional 2–0 away victory to puncture Everton’s momentum. Olga Ahtinen opened the scoring on 28’ with a low drive, and Cathinka Tandberg doubled the lead just after halftime (49’) with a curling 20-yard strike. Despite Everton enjoying slightly more of the ball, the hosts rarely looked like scoring — Spurs’ organised back line and midfield pressing blunted every attack. By full-time, Tottenham had comprehensively outshot Everton and handed the Toffees a reality check after their derby heroics in Week 1.
Key Stats that Influenced the Outcome
Shots on Target: Spurs 8, Everton 0 — a stark indicator of attacking edge.
Big Chances: Spurs created 4 (to Everton’s 0), converting one; volume kept them in control.
Possession vs Penetration: Everton edged possession (53%) but with sterile build-up; Spurs’ direct transitions produced 19 shots to Everton’s 10.
Player Spotlight — Cathinka Tandberg (Tottenham, FW): A constant menace: 1 goal, 1 assist, 6 shots, 3 chances created. Her 49’ long-range curler effectively sealed the win and showcased individual quality.
Leicester City 1–0 Liverpool
Venue: King Power Stadium (Leicester) | Attendance: TBC
In a gritty upset, Leicester earned their first points by beating Liverpool 1–0, despite playing the final half-hour with 10 players. A turning point came at 56’ when Shannon O’Brien was sent off (second yellow). Incredibly, just three minutes later (59’) Leicester grabbed the lead — Emily van Egmond headed home Janice Cayman’s cross with Leicester’s first shot on target. Under siege thereafter, Leicester’s compact defence — marshalled by Sari Kees — repelled wave after wave of Liverpool attacks to preserve the clean sheet.
Key Stats that Influenced the Outcome
Smash-and-Grab Efficiency: Liverpool had 74% possession and 9 shots (3 on target), but Leicester scored with their only shot on target.
Defensive Resilience: Leicester made 24 tackles and 26 clearances; GK Janina Leitzig tallied 3 saves.
Red Card Drama: The 56’ red might have sunk Leicester, but it galvanised them; Liverpool became one-dimensional and couldn’t break through.
Player Spotlight — Sari Kees (Leicester City, CB): 11 defensive actions and 4 duel wins, 3 interceptions (match-high) anchoring a back line that refused to break.
London City Lionesses 1–5 Manchester United
Venue: Copperjax Community Stadium (London) | Attendance: 2,800
Manchester United spoiled London City’s WSL home debut with a ruthless 5–1 rout in Bromley. Maya Le Tissier buried a 3’ penalty (won by Melvine Malard) for 1–0. Jayde Riviere’s rocket on 33’ doubled the lead, and shortly after halftime Malard struck twice in three minutes (47’, 50’) to make it 4–0. Former United forward Nikita Parris pulled one back on 76’, before Jess Park’s superb solo goal on 85’ capped an emphatic win. LCL created some good moments — even more “big chances” — but finishing and top-flight defensive lapses proved costly.
Key Stats that Influenced the Outcome
Clinical Finishing: LCL created 4 big chances to United’s 3, but United converted all 3 (100%) while LCL scored 1/4.
Sharp Shooting: United scored 5 from 7 shots on target (71% conversion).
Experience & Possession: United controlled 54% possession (373 passes vs 308), pressed cleanly (7 fouls to 12) and dictated territory.
Player Spotlight — Melvine Malard (Manchester United, FW): Earned the early penalty and added a second-half brace (4 shots, 2 goals), constantly occupying LCL’s defence.
Final Word
Matchweek 2 delivered high drama and clear statements from the contenders: Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham all perfect on six points, signalling a genuine multi-team title race.
Chelsea passed a stern Villa test—helped by Sam Kerr’s dream return—while Tottenham’s steady rise continued.
At the other end, Liverpool’s start is worrying: two games, two defeats, still goalless; early alarm bells. London City Lionesses felt the step up—United handed out a tough lesson—but the experience will be invaluable as they adapt to the top flight.
Two weeks in, the shape of the league is emerging: familiar front-runners are asserting themselves, but hungry challengers and fresh storylines remain. If Week 2 taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected—and enjoy the quality on show.
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Missed our Matchweek 2 Preview with win probabilities and scoreline forecasts? Read it here