Lucy Bronze own goal costs Chelsea a 1-1 draw with Everton as Manchester City take over top spot in the WSL

Chelsea let the Women's Super League lead slip away at home. On Saturday at Stamford Bridge, Sonia Bompastor's side drew 1-1 with Everton on matchday nine: Sandy Baltimore opened the scoring in the 28th minute and, five minutes later, Lucy Bronze turned a Yuka Momiki cross into her own net. Combined with Manchester City's 5-0 rout of West Ham, the result left the Blues second, two points behind the Citizens.

A corner to open, a cross to level

Chelsea's goal came from a set piece. From a corner, Katie McCabe sent the ball into the box, Bronze headed it on and Baltimore nodded in from close range to make it 1-0.

The lead was short-lived. In the 33rd minute, Momiki swung in a cross that Bronze tried to clear and instead diverted past Hannah Hampton. Everton had barely threatened until then, and it was practically their only clear opening in a match Chelsea dominated from start to finish.

Brosnan and Blundell held Everton together

The second half was one-way traffic, but Everton defended with real composure. Courtney Brosnan, the Toffees' goalkeeper, kept out a Keira Walsh strike with a quarter of an hour to go, and Hannah Blundell got in the way of a shot that looked destined for the net. Everton, who named the same eleven that drew with Manchester United the previous weekend, left London with a point that puts them seventh on 11 points.

What it means for the table

Chelsea remain unbeaten in the WSL, with seven wins and two draws from nine games, but they lost the top spot they held going into the weekend. Manchester City, on 25 points after thrashing West Ham, sit two clear of the Blues (23). Goal difference still favours Chelsea (+23 to +17), though that only matters if the two finish level on points.

• Manchester City: 25 points from 9 games.
• Chelsea: 23 points from 9 games.
• Everton: 11 points from 9 games, seventh.

Up next: a head-to-head at Stamford Bridge

The schedule offers no breathing room: next Saturday, 14 November, Chelsea host Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in a match that could restore their lead or leave them five points adrift. For the Blues, the draw with Everton turns that fixture into the first truly decisive game of the season.

Sources: Everton FC (official match report), ESPN, VAVEL, The Glory Hayes, WSL Football (official fixtures), Sky Sports (results).