Manchester City's perfect start to their Women's Super League title defence continued as Alex Greenwood's first-half free-kick sealed a 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic. 

Greenwood curled in the only goal in the 36th minute at The Valley, moving Andree Jeglertz's side, at least now, five points clear at the top of the standings.

Jeglertz elected to make six changes to the side that came from behind to beat Liverpool last time out, with Lauren Hemp and Khadija Shaw starting on the City bench. 

Charlton started brightly, but it was the visitors who registered the first shot on target, though Sophie Whitehouse had no problem collecting Mary Fowler's 19th-minute attempt. 

Jodie Hutton's cross into the area almost caught out Eartha Cumings soon after, with Beth Mead then forcing a save out of Whitehouse at the other end moments later. 

However, City took the lead nine minutes before half-time through captain Greenwood, who curled an effort over the Charlton wall that nestled into the bottom-right corner from 25 yards. 

City should have pulled further clear shortly after the restart, but Whitehouse produced two instinctive saves to keep out Gracie Prior and Grace Clinton in quick succession. 

Cassandra Korhonen should have done better when she was picked out by Hutton's cross, with Jeglertz introducing Shaw into the action in the 60th minute. 

And she should have made it more comfortable for City, but she could only head wide of the left post from Carlotta Wamser's delivery. It mattered little, though, as they held on for a fourth league win. 

A win on the road!

0-1 @okx pic.twitter.com/bEtzN6HeiF

— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) September 26, 2026

Can anyone stop champions City?

City arrived into the contest having scored 3+ goals in each of their opening three games of a WSL campaign, becoming the first side to do so since Arsenal in 2021-22, and though they were unable to continue that stretch, they showed they can win in different ways. 

The Citizens have now won each of their opening four games this season, equalling their longest 100% winning start across their eight most recent top-flight campaigns, having also won four in a row back in 2019-20. 

In addition, they have also emerged victorious in 29 of their 30 WSL games against newly promoted teams, winning eight straight since a 2-1 loss at Liverpool in 2022-23, though it was a moment of magic from Greenwood that got them over the line. 

Greenwood netted for the first time in the WSL since April 2024 against Bristol City, though Mead also impressed for the Citizens. She finished with game-high totals for chances created (four), touches (98) and passes in the final third (47). 

City were deserving of their win too, finishing with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.98 from their 19 shots to Charlton's 0.63 from their five attempts, with Jeglertz now turning his attention to the Women's Champions League, with a tie against Real Madrid up next.