Manchester City Go Top After 2-1 Win Over Everton

Manchester City climbed to the top of the Women’s Super League table for the first time this season after a tough 2-1 victory over Everton on Sunday. The win was a big moment for City, as it came after both Chelsea and Manchester United dropped points earlier in the weekend.

City started strongly and got the breakthrough through Vivianne Miedema, who scored in the first half to give her team the lead. It was a special goal for Miedema — her 90th in the Women’s Super League. The Dutch striker showed great composure in front of goal, finishing calmly to put City ahead before halftime.

Everton refused to give up and found an equalizer soon after the break. Kelly Gago, who has been a bright spot for Everton this season, scored a well-taken goal to make it 1-1. Her strike gave the visitors hope and briefly silenced the City supporters, who had seen their team dominate the first half.

Just as Everton seemed to gain confidence, Khadija Shaw restored City’s lead in the 55th minute. The Jamaican forward rose above the defenders to head home from close range. Her goal proved to be the winner, as City held firm for the remaining minutes. Shaw’s power and presence in the box made the difference, continuing her fine run of form this season.

City’s win capped a perfect weekend for Andree Jeglertz’s side. Their title rivals Chelsea and Manchester United both failed to win their matches, giving City the chance to move to the top of the table. Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Arsenal, while Manchester United suffered their first league defeat of the season, losing 1-0 at home to Aston Villa.

After eight games, Manchester City now sit on top with 21 points. They are one point ahead of Chelsea, who are chasing their sixth straight league title, and four points ahead of third-placed Manchester United. Everton, meanwhile, dropped to 10th place, only four points clear of West Ham, who are in the relegation play-off zone.

Speaking after the game, Khadija Shaw told the BBC that the match was far from easy. “To be fair, it was a very difficult game,” she said. “Everton made it very difficult and we didn’t help ourselves — seems like that’s how we’ve been going all season. The difference is we just tried to get the job done. At the end of the day, the three points are all that matter, and I think we ground out that win. Definitely happy.”

Despite the defeat, Everton can take positives from their performance. They showed great resilience and organization, especially in the first half when they managed to contain City’s attacks. Kelly Gago’s equalizer was a reminder that the team has potential, but they will need to turn such moments into consistent results to move away from the lower end of the table.

City’s rise to the top was made possible by slip-ups from their rivals. Chelsea dropped points in a hard-fought draw against Arsenal, and Manchester United’s loss to Aston Villa was a major setback. With the season approaching the halfway mark, the title race is heating up, and City have now placed themselves in a strong position.

Manchester City’s performance against Everton showed their determination and team spirit. They were made to work hard for the win, but their ability to respond quickly and stay composed under pressure proved crucial. With Khadija Shaw and Vivianne Miedema in great form, City will be confident about maintaining their lead in the coming weeks.