Manchester City secured their sixth consecutive Women’s Super League victory as they beat Brighton 3-1 at the Academy Stadium, with all of their goals coming in the first half hour.
City took the lead in the 11th minute when Veatriki Sarri took the ball into his own net following Chloe Kelly’s corner.
Julie Blakstad headed in from Kelly’s cross to take the lead after 19 minutes and Laura Coombs added a strike seven minutes later. Brighton pulled a goal back in stoppage time through former City player Lee Geum-min.
The result saw the gap between Gareth Taylor’s fourth-placed side and the Champions League spots reduced to three points, while Brighton, who have been under interim management of Amy Merricks since the end of October, dropped two places, to 11th.
Chloe Kelly forced Man City’s opener against Brighton
Reading leapfrogged the Seagulls, to 10th, as they beat Tottenham 1-0 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium thanks to a 12th-minute goal from Amy Turner.
Liverpool climbed back up to ninth, following their 2-0 win over West Ham.
Ceri Holland fired the Reds ahead in the third minute, and Katie Stengel’s finish doubled the lead to 20.
