Harder puts Chelsea on the brink of another title

CHELSEA are one win from a third successive Women’s Super League title after a narrow 1-0 victory at BIRMINGHAM. Pernille Harder’s penalty in the 71st minute was the difference despite a dogged performance from the bottom side. ARSENAL had put the pressure on with their 7-0 rout of ASTON VILLA. Vivianne Miedema scored a double before an own goal from Rachel Corsie made it 3-0. There were further strikes from Beth Mead, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Stina Blackstenius and Nikita Parris. MANCHESTER CITY made it seven league wins in a row with a 7-2 thrashing of BRIGHTON. Khadija Shaw scored four while Caroline Weir, Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood were also on the scoresheet. Inessa Kaagman and Julia Zigiotti Olme got Brighton’s goals. MANCHESTER UNITED hit three past WEST HAM to stay third. Martha Thomas put United ahead before a Grace Fisk own goal made it 2-0. Leah Galton grabbed the third shortly after half-time. TOTTENHAM were held 2-2 by EVERTON after three goals in the last five minutes, capped off by Megan Finnigan’s stoppage-time equaliser for Everton. Elsewhere, LEICESTER edged closer to safety with a 0-0 draw at home to READING. In the Women’s Champions League, BARCELONA progressed to the final despite suffering their first defeat of the season, by Wolfsburg. The Catalans, who had won the first leg 5-1 at the Nou Camp, lost 2-0. Wolfsburg spurned several chances to reduce the deficit further. The Spanish champions will look to defend their European crown against LYON after they beat French rivals PARIS SAINTGERMAIN at the Parc des Princes. A crowd of 43,254 was not enough to inspire the hosts, who lost 5-3 on aggregate.