Chelsea's remarkable 34-game unbeaten run in the Barclays Women's Super League has been dramatically brought to an end by a resilient Everton side. The 1-0 defeat at Kingsmeadow on Sunday, 7 December 2025, marks the champions' first league loss in over 19 months, dating back to May 2024.
Hayashi Strike Halts Chelsea Juggernaut
The decisive moment arrived in the 12th minute when Japan midfielder Honoka Hayashi turned the ball home from close range at the far post. The goal proved sufficient to secure a monumental victory for the visitors and inflict a first-ever WSL defeat on Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor.
Chelsea pushed for an equaliser and came agonisingly close late on when Sandy Baltimore's effort struck the crossbar. However, Everton's defence held firm to secure a famous clean sheet and three points, becoming the first team to topple the dominant Blues in the league for well over a year.
Manchester City Capitalise to Extend Lead
The result has significant implications at the top of the WSL table. Chelsea, now six points behind leaders Manchester City, saw their rivals capitalise fully earlier on Sunday. City secured a 3-0 away win at Leicester, thanks largely to a late brace from Jamaica forward Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw.
Shaw broke the deadlock in the 74th minute and added a second nine minutes later. Brazilian substitute Kerolin then added a third in stoppage time. The victory represents City's ninth win in 10 league games this season, their best-ever start to a WSL campaign.
Tight Battle for European Places
Elsewhere in the WSL, the race for the top three intensified. Manchester United climbed back into the Champions League qualification spots with a 2-1 home victory over West Ham at Leigh Sports Village.
Elisabeth Terland gave United a first-half lead, which was spectacularly cancelled out by Shekiera Martinez's overhead kick. The winner came from Netherlands defender Dominique Janssen, who fired a superb 20-yard free-kick into the top corner.
Tottenham Hotspur moved level on points with fourth-placed Arsenal after a dramatic 2-1 win against 10-player Aston Villa. Villa's Oceane Deslandes was sent off in the second half, but the visitors took the lead through Kirsty Hanson. Spurs responded instantly through Beth England's header before Norway's Olivia Holdt fired home a stoppage-time winner.
In the day's other fixture, a solitary early goal from Japan's Kiko Seike was enough for Brighton & Hove Albion to secure a 1-0 away victory at London City Lionesses, their fourth league win of the season.
