Matildas star continues remarkable WSL goalscoring run in huge win

Ellie Carpenter continues to thrive in her new, more attacking guise at Chelsea, scoring her fifth goal of the season as the Blues powered to a 6-0 win at Charlton to stay top of the Women's Super League table.

But champions Manchester City remain level on points with Chelsea after Carpenter's Australian international teammate Mary Fowler delivered the crucial assist to eke out a late 2-1 win at London City Lionesses on Sunday (Monday AEDT).

Carpenter is still nominally a full-back, but her ever-increasing influence higher up the park has turned her into a regular goalscoring threat at right wing-back as coach Sonia Bompastor adopts more attacking tactics.

With Chelsea already two up after 10 minutes at The Valley through Nathalie Bjorn and Melvine Malard, Australian football's player of the year Carpenter popped up in the box just three minutes later to slot home the rebound after a Lauren James pot shot was palmed agreeably into her path by Charlton keeper Anna Koivunen.

Finishing decisively, Carpenter could celebrate her fifth goal in 13 games in all competitions this season, including four in the league, compared to the three she amassed in all 29 games last season.

With Chelsea dominating and Malard scoring her second before the break, Charlton took off its experienced Matilda Emily Van Egmond at the break in a tactical bid to halt the slaughter.

It worked, partially, in that the Blues scored only twice more through Aggie Beever-Jones and Giulia Dragoni, but were frustrated not to double their tally given their dominance.

At London City's humble Bromley ground, the Ballon d'Or trophy won in midweek by Spanish superstar Alexia Putellas was on view, and the celebratory mood continued when home striker Jana Fernandez levelled in the 72nd minute following Khadija Shaw's league-leading ninth goal of the season for City.

But Fowler, who made an impact in the half-hour after she came off the subs' bench, quickly made a decisive intervention a couple of minutes after the equaliser, putting in a pinpoint cross from the right that Lauren Hemp headed home.

The win left unbeaten City on 22 points, only behind Chelsea on goal difference, with the Lionesses third on 16.

Arsenal's troubles continued, though, with its three Matildas Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Steph Catley all starters in a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa.

Only an 85th-minute equaliser from Alessia Russo stopped another embarrassing defeat after Chasity Grant had put Villa ahead against the run of play in the 25th minute.

Remarkably, Arsenal chalked up 28 attempts on goal — including a combined seven from the Australian trio — to Villa's lone successful effort.

Tottenham Hotspur thumped Birmingham City 4-1 away to move up to fourth while West Ham United beat Liverpool with the same scoreline.