Manchester Metropolis made it five wins in a row in the Women’s Super League after recording a comfortable 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Jess Park opened the scoring in the 40th minute with a spectacular shot from distance and Jill Roord doubled the visitors’ lead five minutes after the restart.
Katie Stengel came closest to this season’s top-flight newcomers, clipping a goal in the second half of a contest that saw 2,775 fans flock to the Eagles’ headquarters.
Park then became the provider, providing an assist for Khadija Shaw, who headed Metropolis’ third in the 73rd minute.
Jamaican international Shaw was the first to test Shae Yanez, calling the Palace goalkeeper into action moments after kick-off with a weak shot straight at the American.
The visitors were firmly in control of the action, but opportunities were few and far between until Shaw tested Yáñez again shortly after 10 minutes.
Metropolis remained camped on the Eagles’ field, patiently searching for a breakthrough.
Lauren Hemp and Park were next to try to break the deadlock, the former shooting wide while her England teammate’s attempt was an easy save for Yáñez.
Palace continued to defend diligently under more pressure from Metropolis, who were denied twice more by Yanez before Park fired the opener towards the top left from 25 yards.
Metropolis might have wanted more than one chance for Hemp, who shot wide in stoppage time.
Yanez leaped to her left and made an excellent fingertip save to deny Roord’s attempted header shortly after the restart, but the Dutchwoman was not denied twice and doubled Metropolis’ lead with a low shot in the 50th minute.
Stengel managed to reach the goal before being overtaken by a pair of opposing defenders, and was soon tangled between them, shooting weakly at a waiting Khiara Keating.
Keating deflected a cross and the ball fell favorably into the path of Annabel Blanchard, who fired Palace’s first shot of the afternoon over the bar from an awkward angle.
Then they got even closer: half-time substitute Ashleigh Weerden stirred up the home fans when she ran down the left and waved towards Stengel.
The American forward’s resulting shot bounced off the near post and Blanchard had her head in her hands when she failed to finish off the rebound.
Highlights from the Women’s Super League match between Manchester United and Arsenal.
There seemed to be more to come from the visitors, who were three goals up when a precise pass from Park allowed Shaw to head home with ease.
Palace boss Laura Kaminski brought on her last remaining substitute in the outfield in the 81st minute as her team looked to make up the gap.
Weerden and Molly-Mae Sharpe tried and another great save from Yáñez denied Metropolis fourth place, but consolation never came.
Nikita Parris’ goal helped Brighton They continue their impressive form with a 1-0 win over leicester.
Highlights from the Women’s Super League match between Aston Villa and Liverpool.
The forward headed home in the 20th minute for her third goal of the season as the Seagulls picked up their fourth win of the campaign so far.
Liverpool level on points with Arsenal after Taylor Hinds’ brace helped them win Villa Aston 2-1.
Hinds scored twice in the first half, helping the Reds take the lead after crashing the ball into the top corner before scoring his brace with a low shot from a comparable distance.
Highlights from the Women’s Super League match between Tottenham and West Ham United.
Gabi Nunes scored four minutes into the second half for Villa, but Liverpool held on to draw level with the Gunners having picked up nine points so far this year.
Tottenham ended their three-game losing streak in the league after Camila Sáez’s own goal allowed them to win 2-1 West Ham.
The Hammers, who are bottom of the table, took the lead through Riko Ueki before Bethany England equalized, but Spurs got three points after Saez fired over his own goalkeeper in the second minute of stoppage time .
