IRELAND CAPTAIN KATIE McCabe helped defending champions Arsenal beat Everton 3-1 to finish 2019 on a high and stay top of the Women’s Super League [WSL] for Christmas.
The win extended the Gunners’ — where Louise Quinn is also on the books — lead at the summit to three points after Chelsea were held by struggling Liverpool, while Megan Campbell‘s Manchester City crushed thrashed Brighton & Hove Albion 5-0 to move up to second.
Dubliner McCabe returned to the Arsenal line-up, starting at right-back, and her work-rate was second-to-none — as it has been of late.
We LOVE that work rate 🏃♀️@Katie_McCabe11 👏 pic.twitter.com/xhwzd3IEXN
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) December 15, 2019
Dutch sensation Vivianne Miedema continued her magical goal-scoring run at Southport, bagging a brace to bring her WSL season tally to 14 — 10 of those in the past three games alone.
Captain Kim Little slotted home from the penalty spot in between Miedema’s double and while Chloe Kelly scored a late consolation for Everton, Arsenal recorded a sixth successive win.
They’ll be left worried after England striker Beth Mead suffered what looked a serious leg injury in the first half, however.
Meanwhile, Drogheda native Campbell played the full 90 for City — for whom Donegal teenager Tyler Toland also plies her trade. Steph Houghton, Ellen White, Lauren Hemp, Georgia Stanway and Pauline Bremer were all on target in a dominant showing from the Sky Blues.
Ireland defender Niamh Fahey‘s struggling Liverpool held Chelsea to a one goal a-piece draw, with Niamh Charles and Bethany England the goalscorers there.
Emma Hayes’ Blues have a game in hand on Arsenal and City despite slipping to third in the table, while a much-needed point lifted the Reds off the bottom of the table.
Elsewhere, Reading came from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur — Ireland keeper Grace Moloney was between the posts for the Royals — while two of Sunday’s scheduled fixtures — Birmingham City v Manchester United, and West Ham United v Bristol City – were postponed because of waterlogged pitches.
The league now faces into a three-week winter break prior to the next set of fixtures on Sunday, 5 January.
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