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Chelsea FC:
Starting XI: Hampton (GK), Carpenter, Buurman, Nusken, James, Thompson, Girma, Kaptein, Kerr, Bronze, Walsh ©
Substitutes: Cuthbert (53’), Baltimore (53’) Charles (73′), Potter (90′)
Aston Villa:
Starting XI: Roebuck (GK), Patten ©, Jean Francois, Wilms, Maritz, Hanson, Kendall, Grant, Deslandes, Taylor, Nighswonger
Substitutes: Hijikata (68′), Salmon (75′), D’Angelo (79′)
Chelsea FC hosted their final league game at Kingsmeadow this season earlier today in a bid to secure a spot in the leagues’ top three. The hosts have been in a battle with Manchester United since January for eventual third place in the league but with the recent Manchester derby seeing the North-West painted blue, Sonia Bompastor’s Blue’s are in high hopes for the closing stages of the season.
Last time the sides faced eachother, Chelsea won 3-1 with goals from Aggie Beever-Jones, Keira Walsh and Sam Kerr cancelling out that of Ebony Salmon. The visitors sit in eighth in the league, with just 5 wins this season but with a win, draw and a loss in each of their last three games, the game is an open affair.
Chelsea took kick off via Lauren James in South London however failed to prove any threat from the whistle, with Lynn Wilms linking up with Chasity Grant to find the opener for Aston Villa less than two minutes in.
A promising spell infront of goal came from Chelsea in the fifth minute, with Lauren James taking aim but beiong blocked by Lynn Wilms and the deflection rolling to Veerle Buurman, who shot just wide of goal.
Throughout the next ten minutes, both sides had equal effort infront of goal, with Chelsea winning the first corner of the game. Here the ball was layed off for Lauren James who shot from the edge of the box, Ellie Roebuck however, beat her antics, safely collecting the ball at the near post. It was from here on that Chelsea found their form, dominating in possession and upping their effortinfront of goal.
Sjoeke Nusken had another promising chance in the 17th minute, with Ellie Roebuck being forced into yet another crucial save.
Sam Kerr continued her stellar form from the Asian Cup and in the 20th minute, she broke free from the Villians defence to slot one past Ellie Roebuck to close the deficit.
Just two minutes later, Chelsea found the back of the net once again, this time from Lauren James, who linked up with Alyssa Thompson on a corner once again to give Chelsea the lead for the first time today.
Chelsea maintained their dominance in the following minutes, with Lauen James claiming the ball on the edge of the box and slotting the ball past the Villa keeper once more. That’s three goals in eight minutes for the current league champions.
Chelsea’s glory didn’t last for long however, with Aston Villa making an effort to close the gap in the 32nd minute, this time through Kirsty Hanson who did just that, making the score 3-2 to the Blues.
Just four minutes later, Villa broke through the Chelsea defence once again, with Kirsty Hanson finding her second and Villa’s third, closing the gap once again.
With a break in play due to a suspected injury on Sjoeke Nusken, both teams took the time to recalibrate, assumingly attempting to erase their defensive woes.
With three minutes added time on the clock, Aston Villa had one final push on goal, this however lead to nothing, with the Blue’s reclaiming possession and earning the final touch of the half.
Half time: Chelsea 3-3 Aston Villa
With the second half underway, Chelsea looked slightly more dominant on the ball. Whilst failing to provide any real threat infront of goal, Alyssa Thompson did win a free kick for the hosts, this however led to nothing with the attempt being blocked.
In the 53rd minute, Erin Cuthbert and Sandy Baltimore took to the field, replacing Wieke Kaptein and Naomi Girma in an attempt to bolster the Blue’s attack from further back on the pitch.
Throughout the next ten minutes, Chelsea began their dominance in possession once again, with the ball rarely leaving Chelsea’s attacking third. Despite Lucy Bronze’s headed attempt on goal, the Blue’s were yet to find a difference maker.
In the 67th minute, Villa made their first substitution of the game, replacing Miri Taylor with Maya Hijikata in her return from the Asian Cup.
Chelsea had a few more promising chances on goal however, despite their best efforts, Ellie Roebuck’s experience was proven best throughout.
Before long, Niamh Charles made her return to the pitch, replacing Alyssa Thompson and taking her first competitive touches in more than three months due to injury.
Just two minutes later, Chastity Grant made way for Ebony Salmon before Ellie Roebuck was also forced off the field through injury, forcing Sabrina D’Angelo to the field.
In the 82nd minute, Chelsea came alive once more, with Sjoeke Nusken linking up with Chelsea’s Australian duo, Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter to produce Chelsea’s fourth and final goal of the game.
The following stages followed much the same from both sides, with Aston Villa trying to equalise once again and Chelsea wanting to guarantee a victory.
For the villains, this meant a rattle of the bar from Kirsty Hanson as well as a missed header from Anna Patten in a desperate bid to squash the deficit once and for all. These both however proved too little too late, with the match finishing 4-3 to the hosts.
Full time: Chelsea 4-3 Aston Villa
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