Manchester City's perfect start to their Women's Super League title defence continued on Sunday as Khadija Shaw scored twice in an entertaining 3-2 win over Brighton. 

All five of the game's goals came in a frantic first half, with Lauren Hemp twice teeing up Shaw before Niamh Charles pulled the Citizens three clear by the 17th minute. 

But Brighton, who picked up their first league win of the season against Charlton Athletic last week, hit back with two goals in six minutes from Olivia Garcia and Caitlin Hayes. 

However, Andree Jeglertz's side were able to hold on for their sixth consecutive league win, ensuring they remained two points clear of Chelsea in the early-season table. 

The Citizens needed just five minutes to open the scoring through Shaw, who poked in from close range after getting ahead of Chiamaka Nnadozie and reaching Hemp's cross. 

It looked as though the defending WSL champions would run away with the win after two quickfire goals, with Shaw holding off Hayes and Gabby George to head another Hemp delivery into the net, before Charles picked out the bottom-left corner. 

Shaw, Hemp and Grace Clinton all came close to adding to their tally before the half an hour mark, but City took their foot off the gas and allowed Brighton to settle. 

Garcia tucked home Fran Kirby's cross in the 31st minute before Hayes was left unmarked from a corner and saw her header beat Ayaka Yamashita from inside the box. 

In what was a scrappy second half, Shaw's low effort represented City's best chance of scoring a fourth, with the league leaders holding on for another big win on home soil. 

A win at home 3-2 @okx https://t.co/DohX1mudWf

— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) October 18, 2026

In-form Shaw helps City reach seventh heaven

Though it was far from their most convincing display this season, City once again found a way to get the job done, and their strong start to their WSL campaign owes to the goal-scoring exploits of Shaw, who is in a rich vein of form. 

Shaw has now scored in each of her last six WSL starts, equalling her longest run of consecutive starts with a goal in the competition (six, February to April 2024). Overall, the Jamaican has 89 goals in 85 English top-flight starts.

And City needed their striker to be at her best to ensure they remained top of the table, with Chelsea thumping London rivals Tottenham 6-2 at Stamford Bridge. Lauren James and Ellie Carpenter both scored twice, with Sjoeke Nusken and Maika Hamano also on target off the bench. 

It was a dominant display on a landmark day for Sonia Bompastor, who marked her 50th WSL game with a win. She has now earned 125 points in her first 50 matches in the competition, overtaking Joe Montemurro (123) for the most points won by any manager across their first 50 games in the WSL. 

Manchester United also secured their third consecutive league win with a 3-1 victory over Charlton Athletic. Ella Toone and Andrea Medina had put the Red Devils in a good position before Leah Davidson pulled one back, but Julia Zigiotti Olme sealed the win in the 31st minute. 

London City Lionesses kept up their strong start to the season as first-half goals from Delphine Cascarino and Freya Godfrey were enough to see off Everton 2-1, despite Hannah Cain's 71st-minute strike threatening a tense finish.