Sandy Baltimore's superb first-half strike sent Chelsea top of the Women's Super League as they edged past 10-player Manchester City 1-0.
City had been unbeaten heading into the contest, but they had no response to Baltimore's effort, with Ayaka Yamashita's sending-off hindering their hopes of a late comeback.
Aoba Fujino drilled an early effort just wide of the right post before Alyssa Thompson blazed over from the edge of the box in a bright start from both sides.
Katie McCabe came within inches of scoring an own goal as she dealt with Khadija Shaw's pacy cross, while Yamashita was needed to prevent a similar situation at the other end when Melvine Malard's delivery deflected off Jade Rose.
Aggie Beever-Jones – a replacement for the injured Malard – volleyed wide as half-time approached, but Chelsea did take a lead into the break. City were slow to close down Baltimore, who had space on the right of the box to whip a strike into the roof of the net in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
City improved after the break, though Fujino fired a tame effort at Hampton after ghosting in behind the defence.
Lauren Hemp had the best opening as Shaw beat Lucy Bronze for pace to square it in from the right byline, but the England international completely missed the ball from a yard out.
City continued to push, but they were given a mountain to climb in the 75th minute when Yamashita rushed out to intercept a cross-field pass from Maika Hamano, but instead took out Thompson, receiving a straight red card.
Substitute goalkeeper Eartha Cummings' first involvement was to face the resulting free-kick, but Beever-Jones' dipping dead-ball strike rattled the underside of the crossbar.
City almost snatched a draw when Iman Beney raced in behind to send a shot on goal, but it sailed just over the crossbar. Cummings was also called into action at the other end to deny Beever-Jones at the death.
WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!! #CFCW https://t.co/ukGsZ20fZG
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) November 14, 2026
Chelsea attack stutters again, but still punished City
After some thumping wins in October and into the first weekend of November, Chelsea's goals have dried up somewhat in their last few games, drawing 1-1 with Everton in the league before being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Hacken in the Women's Champions League.
It looked like their issues may carry into this clash as well, with Sonia Bompastor's side guilty of overplaying it slightly in the final third, but Baltimore's moment of quality shone.
City got nowhere near Baltimore, who faced little pressure as she controlled the ball and got her head up before smashing in her fourth league goal of the season.
Both sides struggled for quality, though, despite having 13 shots apiece. Chelsea had two shots on target to City's one, and edged the expected goals battle, with 1.66 xG to City's 0.94.
But it should perhaps come as no surprise that Chelsea won, given they have never lost a WSL match in the month of November in 27 attempts (W22 D5).
It was a huge win in terms of the early title race, as Chelsea stopped City's unbeaten run to leapfrog them to the top.
While the pair are some way clear at the top of the WSL, Manchester United are closing in on the top three after they earned a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace earlier on Saturday thanks to goals from Maya Le Tissier and Elisabeth Terland.