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Sophie Ingle Sets New Record But Frustration For Gemma Evans At Manchester United

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By Hannah Blackwell

Sophie Ingle joked that her appearance record in women’s football gave away her age as the Wales captain made another piece of history at the weekend.

Ingle played her 184th Women’s Super League match – setting a new mark – as her Chelsea team thrashed Liverpool 5-1 as Lauren James scored a hat-trick.

Ingle set up James for the first of her three goals before the 32-year-old Wales midfielder said: “It’s a nice record to get to.

“I’ve been in this league for many years now – and I suppose it shows my age as well!

“It’s an honour for me to reach this, especially at a club like Chelsea. I’ve been in the league for many years, and it is getting harder and harder every year. But it’s a nice achievement for myself.”

Ingle was made an OBE for services to football in 2023 and is a four-time WSL champion, having won the title for four consecutive seasons between 2019 and 2023 during her second spell at Chelsea.

The Barry-born player began her career at Cardiff City before moving to Chelsea in 2012.

She left the London side for Bristol Academy in 2014 and went on to have an impressive three-year spell at Liverpool before returning to West London under Emma Hayes in 2018.

Chelsea’s emphatic victory over Liverpool moves them six points clear of second placed Arsenal after four successive wins.

Wales defender Gemma Evans was an unused substitute for Manchester United as they lost 3-1 at home to Manchester City before a crowd of 43,615 at Old Trafford.

City scored two goals barely a minute apart to climb over United into third in the WSL standings on 13 points after seven games, six points behind leaders Chelsea, while United have 12 points.

The crowd of 43,615 smashed United’s previous attendance record of 30,196 for a WSL game at Old Trafford set in 2022 against Aston Villa.

Captain Katie Zelem put United ahead with a penalty in the 21st minute after Alex Greenwood’s handball, but Jill Roord and England international Lauren Hemp scored in the 34th and 35th minutes in a breathless first half.

United gifted City a goal when England keeper Mary Earps hesitated to meet a soft pass back from Maya Le Tissier. Earps’ attempted clearance ricocheted off an onrushing Khadija Shaw and into the net, leaving United’s keeper angrily yelling about the error.

City were reduced to 10 players in the 72nd minute when Laia Alexandri was shown a second yellow for a foul on Lucia Garcia, and while United dominated with a flurry of chances in the final few minutes, City held strong and their fans were singing “Blue Moon” by the final whistle.

Arsenal beat Brighton & Hove Albion earlier on Sunday for their fifth successive WSL victory with goals from Stina Blackstenius, Caitlin Foord and Frida Maanum. Arsenal climbed back to within three points of leaders Chelsea.

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