**Chelsea took all three points back to London with them thanks to a late winner from substitute Erin Cuthbert to regain her side’s eight-point lead at the top of the WSL.**
Manchester City landed the first blow via a well-taken goal from January signing Kerolin but were pegged back by Aggie Beever-Jones before conceding late on to lose the match.
There was a controversial moment in the first half however, which saw Manchester City denied a goal that could have doubled their advantage going into half time.
### First Half:
Manchester City got off to a quicker start than their opponents with their best chance early on falling to Kerolin.
The Brazil international got on the end of a well-weighted pass from Jill Roord, broke forward and fired a low shot at Hannah Hampton who made the save.
Chelsea were beginning to get a grip on possession but could not find the right moment to pull the trigger.
It would be the hosts who would take the lead however when Kerolin broke down the right wing towards Millie Bright.
The Brazilian had Bright backing away and opted to take the shot, that went through the Chelsea defender’s legs, catching out Hampton and rolling into the bottom left corner.
There was a controversial moment five minutes before half-time, when Jess Park thought she doubled her side’s advantage.
The goal would not count however as the referee blew her whistle prior to the shot for a foul on Kerolin rather than letting the shot play out.
City did almost have their two-goal lead from the free kick that the referee blew for when Yui Hasegawa struck the bar with her attempt.
Manchester City would go into the second half with a one-goal lead that they would feel should have a two-goal lead.
The hosts were much the better team in the first half, with Chelsea having to do all the defending in the latter stages of the half.
### Second Half:
Chelsea struck back within the first five minutes of the second half thanks to a lovely team move.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd darted down the right wing, halted her run which caught out Gracie prior, and played the ball into the box to Aggie Beever-Jones.
The Striker collected the pass and blasted her shot into the bottom left corner to level the match and tip the momentum in Chelsea’s favour.
Just after the goal, Erin Cuthbert was brought onto the pitch in place of Maika Hamano who has struggled to have an influence on the game.
A few minutes after this, Nick Cushing opted to make his first change of the game, bringing on Mary Fowler for Laura Coombs.
Chelsea were in charge now with Khiara Keating being called into action to stop a ferocious strike from Wieke Kaptein.
Moments after this, Kaneryd found herself with the ball on the edge of the box, hitting the shot that rattled off the left post and out for the goal kick.
Chelsea showed the strength of their bench in the 63rd minute when they replaced goal scorer, Aggie Beever-Jones and Oriane Jean-Francois with Maya Ramirez and Kiera Walsh.
Kaneryd continued to threaten when the ball was squared to her, but her shot that looked like a certain goal was tipped wide by the leg of Khiara Keating.
Keating made another strong save to deny Kaptein who got on the end of a squared pass for Rytting Kaneryd.
City’s threat had not completely dissipated however, and this showed when the ball was squared to a wide-open Mary Fowler who did not make the right contact with the ball, not taking her chance from a threatening move.
The game continued in favour of Chelsea with shots from Ramirez, Kaneryd and Lauren James all posing threats to the hosts.
After a couple more late substitutes from the visitors that saw Mia Fishel and Catarina Macario enter the pitch, the visitors found a winner.
From the right wing, Ashley Lawrence whipped the ball into the box in the direction of Erin Cuthbert who was dashed into the box and headed the shot past Keating into the left of the net.
With little time to respond, City would fall victim to another [WSL](https://womensleagues.thefa.com) defeat at the hands of Chelsea who once again found a way to win.
### Manchester City Player Ratings:
Khiara Keating – **7.5:** Despite the result, it was a defiant response from Keating who made a series of impressive saves throughout the second half to keep her team in the match.
Kerstin Casparij – **5.5:** Struggled to handle Lauren James, and made some important challenges.
Laia Aleixandri – **6.5:** City’s best defender, won almost all of her duels and was very accurate with her passing.
Naomi Layzell: **5.5:** Did not have much to do in the first half, struggled in the second during Chelsea’s dominance
Gracie Prior – **5.5:** Really struggled to keep Rytting Kaneryd quiet in the second half, and got passed by the Swede almost every time.
Jessica Park – **6:** Unlucky not to have a goal to her name. Did well in the first half but could not grasp control in the second half.
Yui Hasegawa – **6.5:** Ran the midfield in the first half. Found it tougher in the second half but remained the most composed midfielder. Assisted the opener as well.
Jill Roord – **5.5:** Did not get in the game as much as her fellow midfielders, and struggled in the second half.
Vivianne Miedema – **6:** Could not match her performance from midweek, but was still a threat.
Kerolin – **7:** Caused so many problems for the Chelsea defence in the first half. Chelsea struggled to handle her pace.
Laura Coombs – **5.5:** Could not pose the same threat as the rest of City’s attack in the first half.
**Subs:**
Milly Fowler (58′) – **5.5:** Could not make the impact off the bench. Had a good chance to score.
Lily Murphy (80′) – **N/A:** Not enough time to judge
Laura Wienroither (80′) – **N/A:**
### Chelsea Player Ratings:
Hannah Hampton – **6.5:** Made some important saves, and remained switched on, especially on City’s chance straight after the equaliser.
Lucy Bronze – **6:** An improved performance from midweek for the England international, but still did not look convincing at times, particularly in the first half.
Ashley Lawrence – **7:** Good defensively and assisted Cuthbert’s winner in the second half.
Millie Bright – **6:** Struggled in the first half, was backed up easily for the opener. Much better in the second half, and made some good passes.
Niamh Charles – **6.5:** Looked Chelsea’s best defender, won majority of her duels and was not scared to get forward.
Oriane Jean-Francois **5.5:**– Got herself booked almost right after City’s opener. Struggled in the first half.
Wieke Kaptein – **6:** Had some menacing attempts in the second half, and won a lot of her duels.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – **8:** Chelsea’s best player. Was relentless down the wing and on another day, could have found herself on the scoresheet.
Maika Hamano – **6:** Was not on the ball as much as she would have wanted to be. Was not a big threat for Chelsea.
Lauren James – **7:** Grew more threatening as the game went on, and tested Keating with a powerful strike.
Aggie Beever-Jones – **7:** Scored the goal to level the game and was accurate with her passing.
**Subs:**
Erin Cuthbert (55′) – **8.5:** The perfect substitution performance from Cuthbert. Gained her side control of the midfield, and topped it off by scoring the match-winner.
Maya Ramirez (62′) – **6:** Had a couple of chances that did not pose much threat to Keating
Kiera Walsh (62′) – **6:** Helped to control the midfield. Was not on the ball as much as she would have liked.
Mia Fishel (87′) – **N/A:**
Catarina Macario (87′) – **N/A:**
### What’s Next?:
Both teams will now prepare for the grand finale of this [four-match saga](https://thedeck.news/football/chelsea-man-city-womens-league-cup/), when they face each other on the evening of Thursday, March 27 in the second leg of the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals where today’s winners will be looking to overturn a two-goal deficit.