Chelsea extend WSL lead as pen sinks Arsenal

LONDON -- Chelsea strengthened their grip on the Women's Super League (WSL) title after a late 1-0 win over Arsenal in a fiercely fought London derby.

Guro Reiten's 84th minute penalty proved the difference, as Chelsea raced nine points clear at the top of the table.

The result extends Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor's unbeaten run at the helm to 19 games and gives Renee Slegers her first taste of defeat since taking her place in the Arsenal dugout.

Arsenal's day of misery was compounded with Katie McCabe's red card late on.

It was a day of records for Chelsea. Prior to kick-off, they unveiled new signing Naomi Girma in what is the most expensive transfer to date in women's football. The 34,302 in attendance at Stamford Bridge was also the largest crowd the west London side have drawn for a WSL game.

The loss means Arsenal remain in search of a first win away to Chelsea since 2018.

Chelsea began at a ferocious pace, harrying Arsenal with their press and racking up four shots in the opening ten minutes. Erin Cuthbert came close to giving the hosts the lead with a shot from the edge of the box that fizzed just wide.

Arsenal were 2-0 down in the first 12 minutes of the same fixture last season, but they emerged unscathed this time round. They found a foothold in the game and began to fashion chances of their own.

Alessia Russo pounced on a stray backpass from Sjoeke Nüsken but with only Mille Bright blocking her path to goal, dragged her shot wide. Kyra Cooney-Cross shone for Arsenal in midfield and was at the heart of a neatly-worked move that Emily Fox will rue missing.

Chelsea's best chance of the game came through USWNT forward Catarina Macario, whose powerful shot on the term drew a strong close-range save from Daphne van Domselaar.

The intensity didn't let up in the second half and the game settled into a battle of the midfields Stina Blackstenius and Lauren James entered the fray near the hour-mark, as both managers searched for a breakthrough.

The breakthrough came through James, who in typical-fashion charged into the box before being felled by Kim Little. In the ensuing fracas, McCabe was shown a second-yellow card for her protests.

Reiten coolly converted the subsequent penalty to blow the roof off Stamford Bridge, with the home fans sensing that an eighth WSL title is all but wrapped up.