WSL: Chelsea title defence up and running with opening win over Man City | OneFootball

Chelsea drew first blood of the new Women’s Super League season as they edged past Manchester City in a blockbuster opening night fixture under the lights at Stamford Bridge.

Before the game, fans were given a chance to welcome the victorious Lionesses contingent from both sides. Alyssa Thompson was also introduced to the Stamford Bridge faithful following her Deadline Day move from Angel City.

On the pitch, there were debuts for Chelsea’s Ellie Carpenter and Man City’s Sydney Lohmann. Bunny Shaw returned from injury, meanwhile the sight of Sam Kerr’s name among the subs will be welcomed by Chelsea and Australia fans alike.

Ellie Carpenter straight into Chelsea action

City were quick out of the blocks. Inside three minutes, Shaw had an effort pushed aside by Hannah Hampton.

Chelsea settled and gradually started to impose themselves on the game. None more so than Carpenter. Her first real burst forward of the evening saw resulted in a cross into the box that was hammered away by Gracie Prior, with Aggie Beever-Jones lurking.

With 18 minutes gone, Chelsea were denied by a brilliant save from Ayaka Yamashita. Again, it was a cross from Carpenter that forced the opening. The ball fell to Sandy Baltimore and she unleashed an effort that was seemingly deflected en route to goal by the hand of Gracie Prior. Yamashita somehow got the bottom of her palm to the ball to keep her side level.

The reigning champions took the lead with just over half an hour gone. A lung-busting run from Carpenter gave the Australian international room to cross. Her delivery found Beever-Jones, who wriggled free of the City centre-backs to turn the ball home.

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City recovered in style and almost from kick-off, Shaw had a chance to equalise but Hampton stood tall to deny the Jamaican striker.

Minutes later, Alex Greenwood rattled the Chelsea crossbar with a free-kick from 25 yards as Andrée Jeglertz’s side finished the first half strongly but ultimately trailed at the whistle.

Chelsea take home first win of WSL season

In a carbon copy of the opening 45, the visitors started the second period well. Chelsea struggled to clear their lines but somehow remained in the lead.

Yui Hasegawa nearly levelled proceedings as she flicked Lauren Hemp’s cross just wide of the far post with ten minutes gone.

Unfortunately for the visitors, the similarities didn’t end there. Having weathered something of a storm, Chelsea struck in devastating fashion.

Catarina Macario set Wieke Kaptein away down the right-hand side. With Kaptein racing down the touch line, Macario carried her run on into the box hoping to finish the move. The cross just evaded the American, but Maika Hamano was waiting at the back post for a simple tap in.

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At 2-0, Chelsea looked comfortable, until they weren’t. With 20 minutes to go, City had a lifeline. Greenwood sent in a wicked in-swinging free-kick, which Niamh Charles headed into her own goal. With that, the tide turned back in the Cityzens’ favour. Shaw fired straight at Hampton and then grazed the crossbar within minutes of each other.

The Chelsea shot-stopper was called into action soon after to beat away Lily Murphy’s drive. Unfortunately for the 19-year-old, her night ended on a concerning note as she was stretchered off in injury time.

Chelsea are up and running and the question remains, can anyone catch them this season?

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