Chelsea extend lead at WSL summit as James double seals win over Brighton
Lauren James scored twice as the Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea moved six points clear with a convincing 3-0 win away to Brighton.
Fran Kirby was also on target for Emma Hayes’s reigning champions at Broadfield Stadium in Crawley.
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James’s second-half double – on the back of last weekend’s hat-trick against Manchester United – takes her WSL tally to 12 for the season to put her level with Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw as the division’s leading scorer.
Quick GuideRoord ruptures ACL
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Manchester City have confirmed that Jill Roord has ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament.
The Dutch midfielder becomes the latest high-profile female footballer to sustain the injury. She was taken off during City’s Continental Cup win over Manchester United on Wednesday and scans have revealed the extent of the damage.
"Jill will remain under the care of City’s medical team and will begin her rehabilitation," a club statement said. "Everyone at City wishes her a full and speedy recovery."
Chelsea Sam Kerr is out for the season after injuring an ACL in treaining earlier this month. Arsenal's Leah Williamson, Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead have all recently returned from ACL injuries.
The in-form England international was denied the chance to claim a second successive treble as she was replaced 23 minutes from time in order to give a debut to the club-record signing Mayra Ramirez.
Chelsea’s lead at the top could be reduced back to three points when title rivals City and Arsenal play on Sunday.