Pre-season wins for Chelsea Women and Man Utd, Villa draw in Spain | OneFootball

Jessie Fleming (Chelsea) ready to strike the ball defended by Zara Kramzar (Roma). (Pedro Soares / SPP)

Chelsea twice came from behind to beat Roma 3-2 with a 90th-minute decider in the pre-season game at Kingsmeadow.

The Italian side struck after just seven minutes through Emilie Bosshard Haavi but Fran Kirby set up Guro Reiten to drill the ball into the far corner of the net.

Roma re-took the lead with Manuela Giugliano’s 25-yard strike but when they allowed Lauren James to run at the defence unchallenged, the result was a shot from outside the box into the roof of the net.

Chelsea were awarded a second-half penalty but it was changed toa free-kick, with VAR in use at a Barclays Women’s Super League ground for the first time.

However, the Blues grabbed a late winner through Aggie Beever-Jones.

Valentina Giacinti (Roma) has an acrobatic attempt on goal. (Pedro Soares / SPP)

Meanwhile, Chelsea Academy midfielder Lexi Potter has become the first female player in the country to sign a professional contract at the age of 17. She will join Crystal Palace on loan for the 2023/24 season.

There were a couple of other pre-season games at the weekend, including Aston Villa’s 3-3 draw in Spain at Villareal. Fatou Kanteh and Bicho had the hosts two up but Simone Magill and Georgia Mullett hit back to draw Villa level. A Sarah Mayling penalty then had them in front but Villarreal equalised late on.

Manchester United edged Everton 1-0 in a behind-closed-doors encounter at Carrington, Leah Galton got the goal from a cross by Emma Watson.

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