Chelsea v Aston Villa: Women’s Super League – live | Women’s Super League
Key occasions
13 min But now Bornze turns up on the left wing, crossing… and Kaptein solely simply fails to use forehead to ball, Thompson additionally unable to meet up with it. Chelsea, although, keep stress, profitable a nook; it goes brief to James, whose shot is saved by Roebuck simply sufficient.
12 min On which level, Hanson nearly catches Bronze, chasing a channel-pass; within the occasion she’s penalized however utilizing her tempo as she roams concerning the ahead line seems to be to be a central plank of Villa’s technique right now.
11 min Chelsea look harmful down their left, Thompson working in behind and seeking to have the legs on Nightswonger. I’d not be stunned to see Walsh dart passes in behind for that objective.
10 min Looking on the aim once more, I’m unsure Bronze’s cross was a blind one, moderately a dreadful one. No doubt the excellence will make her really feel significantly better.
8 min This has been a very entertaining begin. Chelsea at the moment are threatening, however Villa look enterprising on the counter and like they imagine they will get one thing out of this.
6 min Pre-match, Arroyo instructed us she wished her facet to remain within the sport early on, however they’ve performed a lot greater than that. But Chelsea are awake now, Thompson working off Nightswonger, and amassing a cross into stride earlier than crossing; within the center, Patten does simply sufficient to lever Kerr out of it earlier than, backing up from the left, James once more shoots extensive.
5 min Back comes Chelsea, Walsh having a shot blocked, then James fires extensive.
4 min Chelsea have loads of time to get that aim again, however Bompastor can be involved by his lackadaisical begin.
GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa (Grant 2)
Oh my days! Bronze performs a blind, informal square-pass and Grant, within the no 10 place, collects possession and spreads proper to Wilms. Her cross, low to the close to publish, is on-point, and Grant, goal-side and working off Girma, dashes to satisfy it, lifting a effective end over Hampton. What a begin!
1 min Chelsea look to bait Villa into urgent, knocking the ball concerning the again 4 as they settle into rhythm.
1 min Chelsea get us below manner.
Chelsea look good and relaxed within the huddle, loads of laughter as Walsh will get them going. We’re prepared.
Our groups are tunnelled, and right here they arrive. This is Chelsea’s remaining dwelling league sport of the season.
These two groups have met 11 instances within the WSL; Chelsea have gained all of them.
It actually is simply too lengthy since we noticed Kerr and James collectively. If they’re at it right now, I’m unsure what Villa can do about it.
Chelsea will know that, in the event that they cease Hanson – solely Khadija Shaw has scored greater than her 10 league targets this season – they in all probability cease Villa. I’d not be stunned to see her drift extensive and see if she will get on the inexperienced Buurman.
Bopastor tells Skywanted to seek out the strongest beginning XI and Kerr, as the one No 9 within the squad, needed to be concerned.
Natalia Arroyo is aware of her crew faces a troublesome process, Chelsea in all probability indignant after their midweek tousing, so within the first occasion she needs Villa to remain within the sport, then combat arduous.
Villa, in the meantime, will look to maintain a low block, I count on, with Chastity Grant and Lucia Kendal breaking shortly and looking for to create for Kirsty Hanson. Villa at the moment sits eighth within the desk, however will see sixth as nonetheless inside attain.
So the place is the sport? Chelsea will look to play into Kerr and, if they will, get her turned and working both in behind or with the ball. whereas James wanders off the left in assist. To make that occur, they’re going to use Keira Walsh to regulate the tempo of the sport, with Kaptein and Nusken specifically bombing on.
The large information, although, is the return of Kerr. A facet that has her and Lauren James in it could do something to anybody, however how shortly can they gel?
This is a comparatively younger Chelsea XI – Veerla Buurman is nineteen, Wieke Kaptein 19 and Alyssa Thompson 21. I’m actually wanting ahead to seeing how they get on as Bompastor seems to be to refresh the membership, and if any of them do nicely sufficient to earn a midweek begin when Arsenal go to.
Also happening:
Villa gained final weekend for the primary time since Brighton since beating Brighton on 11 January; they make one change, Lucy Parker dropping out with Océane Deslandes coming in.
Changes for Chelsea: out go Kadeisha Buchannan, Erin Cuthbert and Sandy Baltimore; in come Wieke Kaptein together with the returnees, Ellie Carpenter, beginning after sitting on the bench in midweek, and Sam Kerr.
Teams!
Chelsea (4-3-3): Hampton; Carpenter, Girma, Bronze, Buurman; Walsh, Nusken, Kaptein; Thompson, Kerr, James. Subs: Peng, Spencer, Buchanan, Baltimore, Charles, Potter, Cuthbert, Shooter, Sarwie.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Roebuck; Wilms, Patten, Deslandes, Nightswonger; Jean-Francois, Taylor; Grant, Maritz, Kendall; Hanson. Subs: D’Anglelo, Maltby, Scott, Seymour, Lea, Hijikata, Salmon.
Referee: Callum Jones (Bootle)
Preamble
A legendary supervisor leaves a membership and success continues: we noticed it for half a era after Chelsea sacked José Mourinho and for a season after Emma Hayes moved on, equally so at Liverpool following the resignation of Jürgen Klopp. To what extent, although, was that right down to processes so efficient and inculcated that they outlasted the departed, versus the impetus of recent concepts from the brand new incumbent? For Sonia Bopastor, the stress is on.
Yesterday’s thumping derby win means Manchester City want a most of 5 factors from the video games to regain the WSL crown; Chelsea, who final season gained an undefeated home treble, have been barely ever within the race. They did retain the League Cup, they’re nonetheless within the FA Cup – and the Champions League, nearly – however one other season like this one will not be ok for a membership used to higher.
Disappointment has many moms, and Chelsea comes into this afternoon’s sport with out Nathalie Björn, Myra Ramírez, Niamh Charles and Millie Bright, whereas Aggie Beever-Jones would possibly nonetheless be absent too. On the opposite hand, although, Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter can be found for a match the significance of which is way better than itself.
Most pressingly, on Wednesday evening Chelsea meet Arsenal within the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final, trailing the defending champions – and what a painful phrase that’s for a facet but to win the factor – 3-1. A very good efficiency right now will give them momentum as they put together for a process that’s troublesome however not inconceivable.
But this reply is about subsequent season in addition to this. Although at the moment, Chelsea sit fourth within the WSL, a win right now takes them third and into the Champions League spots – two factors forward of Manchester United, who they host within the remaining spherical of video games. Or, in different phrases, the title is probably not at stake, however there’s nonetheless a helluva lot happening right here.
Kickoff: 12pm BST, child
