Chelsea FC:
Starting XI: Hampton (GK), Carpenter, Bright ©, Buurman, Cuthbert, Macario, Bjorn, Baltimore, Kaptein, Walsh, Beever-Jones
Subs: Hamano (46’) Thompson (46’) Kerr (69’) Reiten (87′) Rytting Kaneryd (87′)
Leicester City:
Starting XI: Leitzig (GK), Tierney, van Egmond, Boureille, Cayman ©, Ale, Eiriksdottir, Payne, Thibaud, Cain, McLoughlin
Subs: Rantala (76′), Ayane (84′)
Chelsea fc looked to extend their 18 month domestic unbeaten streak this weekend against Leicester City in an exciting WSL clash. Last season saw Chelsea victorious at home with a 3-1 win at Kingsmeadow. However, during the return fixture, Chelsea trailed 1-0 for almost 60 minutes proving the uncertainty of this match up.
Chelsea kicked off dominating with possession however struggled to leave their own half for much of the opening moments.
The first real threat of the game came in the fourth minute where Leicester City won a free kick in the attacking third. This met the boots of Hannah Cain however she struggled to make a shot from it.
Soon after, a promising ball from Baltimore met Kaptein on the wing but was flagged offside before the Dutch international could progress.
In the seventh minute, Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones found the opener, a pass from Erin Cuthbert finding the striker’s feet allowing her to lob Janina Leitzig from within the box.
By the 15th minute mark, Beever-Jones had broken loose again, crossing the ball to Ellie Carpenter on the far side who shot the ball directly into Leitzig’s arms.
Minutes later, Erin Cuthbert took a shot from outside the box prompting an impressive save from Leitzig leading to the ball going out for a corner. This was taken short and thus led to nothing.
Chelsea’s counter attack proved dangerous with Carpenter beating the Leicester defence, crossing the ball to Sandy Baltimore in the box who unfortunately hand balled it in the box.
Aggie Beever-Jones’ silky turn met the boots of Erin Cuthbert who shot forced yet another impressive save from the Leicester goal keeper.
Ten minutes before half time, Emily van Egmond earned the first yellow of the game for a nasty foul on Erin Cuthbert that had potential to be a red.
This was followed by a yellow card awarded to Erin Cuthbert who was shoved into Asmita Ale by Heather Payne, opening questions as to why the card was awarded.
A foul from Millie Bright led to a free kick for Leicester in dangerous territory. This was cleared by Aggie Beever-Jones despite the offside flag being raised.
Catarina Macario won the ball moments before half time, breaking through the foxes defence but the ball went straight to the hands of Janina Leitzig once more.
With a minute on the clock, Sandy Baltimore earnt a sneaky corner which was taken by Macario in the dying stages. The attacker crossed the ball straight into the path of Leicester’s defence, which bounced to the boots of Sandy Baltimore once again, the French international shot again and the ball went out for another corner. Keira Walsh shot what looked to be a screamer but Leitzig tipped it over the bar meaning the half time score was 1-0.
As Leicester City kicked off the second half, Maika Hamano and Alyssa Thompson entered the field in place of Catarina Macario and Sandy Baltimore, a home debut for Thompson.
Leicester proved promising in the opening stages of the second half with two set piece opportunities, both of which led to nothing.
Ten minutes into the second half, Chelsea found their rhythm again, having several shots in a short span of time, including an eerily close shot causing Leitzig into yet another impressive save.
Moments later Erin Cuthbert went down injured, requiring medical attention before returning to the field of play minutes later.
Julie Thibaud showed her talent once more, sliding between the Chelsea defence before sending the ball wide from within the box.
Soon after, Wieke Kaptein broke free in the midfield in the 63rd minute before being taken down by Eiriksdottir, prompting a free kick which was hit directly into the path of the foxes defence thus being cleared up field.
Asmita Ale proved threatening on the attack, sneaking close to Hampton’s net before losing the ball to the Blue’s skipper.
At the 70th minute mark, Sam Kerr made her return to Kingsmeadow after suffering a brutal ACL injury in January of 2024. With that, the Chelsea press picked up and so did the atmosphere around the stands, with a standing ovation congratulating the strikers return.
With that came the next substitute, Jutta Rantala on for Hannah Cain, a well earnt rest after today’s impressive display.
At the 80th minute mark Alyssa Thompson earnt Chelsea a free kick in dangerous territory and with Olivia McLoughlin still on the side lines due to a previous collision, Erin Cuthbert’s cross came just centimetres from Sam Kerr’s head, forcing Leitzig into another save.
Moments later, the previously injured Olivia McLoughlin made way for former blue, Rosella Ayanne who earnt the side a free kick with her first touches. Tierney’s ball went short to Rantala before essentially being cleared by her own team mate, Eiriksdottir leaving Chelsea open on the counter attack.
In the 87th minute, Guro Reiten and Johanna Rytting-Kaneryd entered the field in place of Aggie Beever-Jones and Veerle Buurman, the blues desperately looking for a second before full time.
With six minutes added time announced, the momentum of both sides picked up, with Rosella Ayanne shooting from range in an attempt to catch Hannah Hampton off her line, the keeper however shirt her worth , clearing it from the top right corner.
Chelsea were then on the attack once again, Alyssa Thompson breaking free on the wing, crossing the ball to Ellie Carpenter whose shot went wide.
Sam Kerr came close to claiming her second of the season after her return to play last week however was flagged offside, prompting Leicester’s final attack of the game.
The final attack of the game came from Alyssa Thompson on the right flank where the ball was cleared before the final whistle blew.
Chelsea continued their unbeaten streak once more after beating Leicester City 1-0 in west London. The blues will face West Ham in their first London derby of the season next weekend whilst Leicester host Tottenham Hotspur, both teams looking for another win after suffering defeat this weekend.
Chelsea squad celebrating Aggie Beever-Jones goal (image by Lucy Halliday for Constancy Sport 21/09/25)