They were dancing in the streets of Manchester after Arsenal inflicted a rare 2-0 home defeat on Chelsea, meaning it’s now City’s Women's Super League title to lose, writes Jane Grove.
Second-half goals from Beth Mead and Mariona Caldentey at Stamford Bridge – in front of 30,545 spectators – left Blues manager Sonia Bompastor still claiming that a seventh successive WSL title was achievable.
But in her heart of hearts she knows the incredible run of half a dozen league trophies in a row is over.
“It will be tough; we have nine games left, but that's the job we need to do,” she said. That job starts this Sunday, when Chelsea face City in the big Etihad stadium in a bid to reduce the current nine-point gap.
Meanwhile the men, after an unconvincing 1-0 win against Cypriot minnow Pafos in the Champions League, stormed to a 3-1 win against Palace at Selhurst Park.
It was one of the best performances of the season against a side still reeling after losing their best player, Marc Guehi, whose transfer-window move to City proved a nice little earner for the Blues.
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A dazzling solo goal from Estevao saw Chelsea lead 1-0 at the interval on Sunday after he sprinted half the length of the pitch to beat keeper (and new captain) Dean Henderson.
Joao Pedro fired in a second, and Enzo Fernandez converted a penalty for a third before Palace’s long-thrower Chris Richards headed a consolation for the home side, who were reduce to 10 men after Adam Wharton was shown a second yellow card.
“We defended from the front; we were organised and very clinical,” said Liam Rosenior, whose side fly back from their midweek gig in Naples to face West Ham at the Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
