Chelsea leapt above Manchester United to go second in the Women’s Super League table as the teenager Lexi Potter scored the winner against Brighton on her first senior start.
The defending champions beat United in the League Cup final on Sunday and rubbed salt into the wounds by nipping a point ahead of them with a 2-1 victory at Kingsmeadow.
Potter, the 19-year-old Cobham academy graduate, came in as one of three changes from the side that lifted the trophy at the weekend and put in an impressive performance in midfield. She made it a memorable outing in the 39th minute, rifling home from close range after neat touches from Aggie Beever-Jones and Alyssa Thompson.
Both teams had already exchanged goals to leave the scores level at 1-1, Thompson heading the opener and Carla Camacho’s deflected effort following just three minutes later.
Marc Skinner’s Manchester United drew 0-0 at West Hamdespite a handful of chances for the visitors.
Kinga Szemik was impenetrable in the Hammers’ goal and the substitute Melvine Malard had three good chances to settle it late on, including one hacked off the line by Eva Nyström.
Manchester City lead the WSL table but have had their lead cut following their goalless draw at Aston Villa on Sunday. Chelsea are now seven points behind and United eight.
