Reigning champions Chelsea moved to the top of the Women’s Super League with a 2-0 victory over previous leaders Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Mayra Ramirez and Guro Reiten in the final 15 minutes ensured the Blues made it 10 wins from 10 games under head coach Sonia Bompastor and ended City’s 13-match unbeaten run.
Chelsea, who have claimed the title in the last five seasons, are now two points clear of City in the table with their game in hand, against Manchester United, to come next Sunday.
The first chance of the game came Chelsea’s way in the fifth minute when Maika Hamano’s corner was met by Millie Bright’s header, which was held by City goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.
A driving run down the right by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd then led to a good opportunity for Hamano, who lifted her shot over.
Having been under the cosh, the visitors were presented with a big chance to take the lead after 22 minutes when Sandy Baltimore’s wild backpass allowed Khadija Shaw to run through on goal, only to drag her shot well wide.
The wayward shooting continued at the other end when Reiten laid the ball back perfectly for Erin Cuthbert, who smashed her first-time shot high into the stands.
City began to have more of the game towards the end of the first half, with a mishit cross by Kerstin Casparij needing to be pushed around the near post by Hannah Hampton, playing on her 24th birthday.
Chelsea came close to opening up a cagey contest six minutes into the second half when Reiten’s chipped cross was headed wide by Nathalie Bjorn.
Shaw then had two good headed chances from set-pieces for the away side, first planting Mary Fowler’s corner straight at Hampton before nodding Alex Greenwood’s free-kick wide.
Openings were suddenly coming thick and fast at either end, with Blues midfielder Cuthbert going on a good run into the area before shooting wide.
City were then left sweating over a potential injury to Shaw after she was accidentally trodden on by Bjorn during a scramble in the six-yard box but, with fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt watching on, she was able to continue.
The breakthrough finally came for Chelsea in the 75th minute when Ramirez shrugged off Alanna Kennedy to run on to Hamano’s pass, charge into the area and finish clinically into the bottom corner.
The hosts searched for a quick second as Hamano laid the ball off for Reiten, who dragged wide from just inside the area.
But a huge win was secured in the 79th minute when Lucy Bronze’s superb pass found Reiten in space and the Norwegian bent a classy effort into the far corner.