Cuthbert hits late Chelsea winner to stun Man City

Erin Cuthbert scored a dramatic injury-time winner at Manchester City as Chelsea bounced back from their midweek Champions League defeat to maintain their charge towards a sixth straight Women's Super League title.

The Scotland midfielder's diving header settled a thrilling third encounter between the rivals in eight days.

It included a disallowed goal by City's Jess Park, that would have put them 2-0 up, after the referee did not play advantage having blown for a free-kick in their favour - and which the home side's interim boss Nick Cushing said officials later "admitted they made a mistake".

Chelsea's 31-game unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end on Wednesday as City claimed a 2-0 win in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final at Joie Stadium.

That avenged their League Cup final defeat at the hands of the Sonia Bompastor's side four days earlier, with the two meeting again on Thursday night in their European return.

Cushing's team looked like they would record back-to-back wins on Sunday as they dominated the first half, with a brilliant solo goal from winger Kerolin giving them a 32nd-minute lead at Etihad Stadium.

But Chelsea, keen to avoid a first WSL defeat of the season, responded superbly with Beever-Jones calmly slotting home to level four minutes after the restart.

City goalkeeper Khiara Keating made four superb saves to prevent the visitors from edging ahead, but the hosts' defence was breached in the first minute of added time as Cuthbert glanced home Ashley Lawrence's cross.

Eight points now separate defending champions Chelsea from second-placed Arsenal with five games remaining.

Meanwhile, City's chances of Champions League football next season hang by a thread as they sit four points behind rivals Manchester United, who play against Aston Villa later on Sunday.

Chelsea overcome slow start to finish well

In the immediate aftermath of the Champions League tie - Bompastor's first loss in 28 games in charge - the Chelsea manager criticised her side's slow start and demanded more intensity.

But the Blues were lethargic in defence and laboured in attack as City took control of the opening period, with Brazilian Kerolin causing constant problems and netting her first WSL goal with a cheeky finish through the legs of Millie Bright.

In a frantic start to the second half, Chelsea surged forward and were rewarded when Johanna Rytting Kaneryd's clever cutback was followed by a ball into the path of Beever-Jones, who swept a finish past Keating.

With a commanding lead in top spot, the visitors could afford to settle for a draw, but in the typical style of serial champions they pushed for a winner.

The recalled Keating was moments away from completing a heroic afternoon with fine saves to stop Wieke Kaptein twice, along with Lauren James and Rytting Kanerd.

But Cuthbert, brought off the bench for Maika Hamano in the 55th minute, pounced in the box to direct Ashley Lawrence's cross into the far corner.

Bompastor will hope her team can carry that attacking effort and momentum into Thursday's Champions League second leg as the Blues look to overturn a two-goal deficit at Stamford Bridge.

Kerolin & Keating shine - but City suffer goal controversy

On a high from their midweek triumph, City looked to be enjoying the Etihad occasion as they thrilled fans with fierce attacks, with Kerolin constantly getting the better of Niamh Charles on the right wing.

A touch too many prevented the Brazilian from scoring earlier as Hannah Hampton saved well, while former City player Lucy Bronze - moving from her usual right-back position to centre-back - intercepted Kerolin's cross to deny Vivianne Miedema a shooting chance.

Kerolin eventually found a way through, latching on to a ball over the top from Yui Hasegawa before darting at the Chelsea backline and squeezing the ball through a retreating Bright's legs.

City were aggrieved they didn't have a second goal just before half-time. Just as Kerolin was brought down by Bright on the edge of the box, the ball came to Park who lofted a lovely finish into the top corner.

However, referee Kirsty Dowle did not play advantage and had blown her whistle as Park's effort nestled into the back of the net.

Hasegawa struck the bar from the resulting free-kick, but it proved a crucial moment as City failed to match their first-half efforts.

Cushing said: "I think, ultimately, it's an advantage moment. It's instantly after the foul, so I don't think you have to play it on much further.

"I asked the fourth official to ask the ref to play the advantage on the Laura Coombs foul where we had a counter-attack moment, literally 90 seconds before, so that's where the frustration comes from.

"They (officials) admitted they made a mistake and admitted it's one of those moments they were disappointed with and ultimately they apologised."

BBC Sport has approached the PGMOL for a response.

City were then indebted to the brilliance of keeper Keating, in for the injured Ayaka Yamashita, although Mary Fowler and Miedema should have done better when Kerstin Casparij teed up an opportunity in the box.

Cushing, who only returned to the club 13 days ago following the sacking of Gareth Taylor, will now have to rally his side for their trip to Chelsea and salvage their hopes of a trophy this season, with a top-three WSL spot in doubt.