Guro Reiten’s first-half penalty stored up Chelsea’s excellent begin to the season and secured a twelfth successive victory for Sonia Bompastor with a 1-0 win over Man Utd.
The Blues opened up a five-point hole on the prime of the WSL in the one sport of the weekend with out getting out of second gear at Kingsmeadow, and by no means appeared at risk of shedding their lead as soon as they went forward after 17 minutes.
The purpose which ended Man Utd’s personal unbeaten begin got here after Simi Awujo was caught in possession in her personal half by Erin Cuthbert, and after feeding Mayra Ramirez, a one-two with Maika Hamano set her into the field, the place she was introduced down by Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
Reiten, who had already scored in every of her earlier three WSL video games, made it 4 in a row from 12 yards with an ideal penalty, regardless of the Man Utd goalkeeper guessing the suitable manner.
Man Utd got here into the weekend with the league’s meanest defence however the hosts appeared probably the most watertight in South London for many of the sport. The guests registered solely a single shot till the final minute of regular time, when Melvine Malard crashed an effort towards the crossbar out of nothing.
Chelsea ought to have already added to their lead by that time, with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd responsible of failing to sq. for a Ramirez tap-in after half-time, whereas Cuthbert additionally pulled a fingertip cease out of Tullis-Joyce.
Shortly earlier than Malard’s close to miss, Ramirez ought to have complemented her first-half penalty win with a purpose of her personal, however fired straight at Tullis-Joyce from Kaneryd’s pull-back.
Evaluation: Missed alternative for under-par Man Utd
Sky Sports activities’ Ron Walker at Kingsmeadow:
“No doubt Chelsea are, pound for pound, a better side than Man Utd. They finished 20 points ahead of them six months ago, after all, thrashing them 6-0 on the final day.
“However this was not a Blues aspect at its finest but they nonetheless had the higher of the sport all through at Kingsmeadow towards the one different unbeaten aspect within the division.
“Sonia Bompastor will be pleased her side found a way to win despite being at times off-colour, but Marc Skinner should have questions behind closed doors about how they balanced stopping Chelsea and implementing their own game plan.
“We noticed Tottenham go toe-to-toe with Chelsea earlier this season and rating twice, although they have been additionally discovered wanting defensively as they conceded 5 occasions – that was too open but it surely confirmed that the Blues may be bought at.
“Man Utd only threatened that inside the final five minutes and that was when they had no other choice – and they found themselves a couple of inches away from snatching a late equaliser.
“Skinner publicly said his aspect bought their ways proper however what he has seen together with his personal eyes, in addition to the statistics, can not again that up.”
Bompastor ‘a bit disappointed’ despite win
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor speaking to Sky Sports:
“I believe it was a tricky sport immediately, we have been anticipating that. Man Utd don’t concede a whole lot of targets so we knew they have been coming with an excellent defensive organisation, and we needed to have a extremely good sport with the ball.
“Especially with the wind today, it was difficult for us to build and to play more, so I am just a bit disappointed at the fact we couldn’t play more.
“Typically a very powerful factor is to get the three factors, particularly as a result of we now have been in a run enjoying 5 video games in two weeks. I believe the gamers are a bit of bit fatigued as nicely.”
Skinner proud despite first defeat
Man Utd manager Marc Skinner speaking to Sky Sports:
“Chelsea are the very best crew within the nation, they’re the champions for a motive. We mentioned we might give the whole lot from the off and the gamers have given the whole lot.
“Both teams had to play the conditions, but the pride I feel for the team and their commitment to what we’re doing, and know we can do, I’m proud of their performance.
“For us it was about being calculated and all the time opening up extra within the second half, we modified form within the final quarter-hour to essentially give an attacking menace.
“We opened up, Chelsea took a few more opportunities. You have to balance the game, you go toe-to-toe with Chelsea and they probably win against most teams.”
