Substitute Erin Cuthbert headed a stoppage-time winner as Chelsea came from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium and go eight points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League with five games remaining.

Chelsea went into what was the third of four successive meetings between the sides looking to bounce back from Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat at the Joie Stadium, their first loss of 2024-25, and boss Sonia Bompastor’s tenure, that ended a 31-game unbeaten run stretching back to last May.

But they trailed again after a first half that saw City take the lead just past the half-hour mark via Kerolin’s finish and threaten a second, with Jess Park having an effort disallowed and Yui Hasegawa hitting the bar.

However, Aggie Beever-Jones then struck to bring things level four minutes into the second half, and after Johanna Rytting Kaneryd saw a shot come off the post and City goalkeeper Khiara Keating pulled off some fine saves, Cuthbert completed the turnaround in dramatic fashion with a header in the first minute of added time.

It was a big step towards a sixth consecutive WSL title for the west Londoners, a day on from second-placed Arsenal reducing the gap to five points with victory over Liverpool.

For City, meanwhile, the result was a major blow to their hopes of a top-three finish, with them four points adrift ahead of third-placed Manchester United playing at Aston Villa later on Sunday.

The sides play the second leg of the European tie at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

Kerolin produced the game’s first attempt when she burst into the box in the ninth minute and her shot was blocked by Hannah Hampton’s legs, and another foray ended with Lucy Bronze intercepting her cross.

Four minutes later the Brazilian advanced into the area again as Chelsea backed off and she sent the ball through Millie Bright’s legs and into the bottom corner.

City thought they had another goal in the 40th minute when Park lofted a shot into the net but the effort – much to her dismay – was disallowed, the hosts instead being given a free-kick for Bright’s challenge on Kerolin in the build-up.

Hasegawa then curled the free-kick against the bar, before Kerolin again caused Chelsea problems as she teed up Laura Coombs, who fired wide.

Having offered little in attack in the first half, Chelsea then hit back early in the second, with Beever-Jones lashing past Keating from Rytting Kaneryd’s cut-back.

And after Hampton saved a Vivianne Miedema effort, Keating did well to push Wieke Kaptein’s shot over the bar, and Rytting Kaneryd saw a strike skim off the far post.

Rytting Kaneryd and Kaptein then brought further fine stops out of Keating as Chelsea continued to push.

After Kerolin and Rytting Kaneryd made unsuccessful attempts, Chelsea were again thwarted by Keating late on when she kept out a Lauren James strike, but moments later they found a winner as Ashley Lawrence crossed from the right and Cuthbert headed in.