Chelsea Ladies head in the international break two points clear at the top of the WSL 1 despite being held to a 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
Chelsea’s Eni Aluko put the Blues in front with her second goal of the season and Chelsea’s ninth of the campaign. But not to be outdone with England squad selection on the horizon, Toni Duggan bagged herself the equaliser to earn her side a point, leaving them in sixth place.
Both teams made one change each to the starting XI’s that played in Monday’s FA Cup semi-final – for City Karen Bardsley came in for Alex Brooks in between the sticks, and Drew Spence replaced Laura Coombs in the Chelsea attack.
With the disappointment of their cup exit still looming, City started bright against their London rivals. But Isobel Christensen could only shoot wide of the target following some great play from Nikita Parris and Duggan.
And it was the visitors who capitalised on their opponent’s inability to convert, scoring first on 23 minutes after City had dominated possession. Aluko linked up well with PFA Player of the Year Ji So-Yun, releasing the South Korean down the right with a crafty pass from the outside of her boot, before receiving the ball back and stabbing it past Bardsley first time to open the scoring.
City could have got back on level terms straight from the kick off, but left back Demi Stokes only found the side netting with her effort.
But as half-time approached, City did find the back of the net, after a rare mistake from Chelsea goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.
Goalscorer Duggan started the move with a chipped ball in to the space behind the Chelsea back four, which Nikita Parris attacked with pace. With her defenders beaten Lindahl then tried to smother the pass but misjudged her tackle and left Natasha Harding free to pick up the spilled ball.
Harding fizzed her cross across the box which Christensen expertly dummied after a shout from the onrushing Duggan who fired home to level the scores.
After an exciting first half, the second 45 produced little action, as both sides patiently waited for an opportunity on the break. However the in-form Duggan, full of confidence after bagging her first league goal of the season, did make a late break for a winner, whipping a fierce ball in from the left for Harding whose shot was saved by Lindahl in the 85th minute.
This proved the last real action of the game and both sides settled with a point.
They will now play again on the 12th of July, following the World Cup break.
