Tag: Women’s Sport

Categories
WSL

SEVEN GOAL THRILLER SEES CHELSEA CLINCH THREE POINTS OVER ASTON VILLA

Image via @chelseafcw on Instagram

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

Categories
Women’s Asia Cup

Japan reach Asian Cup Final in style

PHOTO: @JFA_NADESHIKO (X)

Japan reached their seventh AFC Women’s Asian Cup in style as they defeated high-flyers South Korea 4-1 in the semi-finals.

Riko Ueki struck first, slotting in a neat finish following a defensive mishap, giving Japan the lead in sixteen minutes. This also took her tally in the competition to six goals, and going into the final, she’s top of the rankings for goal scorers and in contention for the golden boot.

Tottenham’s Maika Hamano was next to strike, thundering a well-struck effort into the top right-hand corner at the near post, further extending their advantage over South Korea.

This teed up Manchester City star Aoba Fujino for the third goal before half-time, but it was ruled out for a handball in the build-up from teammate Saki Kumagai.

With a two-goal lead at the break, it seemed like Nadeshiko were well in control.

This remained the case in the second half. At 75 minutes Japan had their all-important third goal. This time, defender Kumagai rose highest from a corner whipped in by Bayern Munich’s Momoko Tanikawa to head home.

South Korea grabbed themselves what turned out to be only a consolation goal just three minutes later. Chae-Rim Kang, on the half turn, made a neat connection on the half volley, and the ball trickled past Ayaka Yamashita in the Japan net. This signalled the only goal Japan have conceded all tournament so far.

However, there was one more twist in this fixture, as Remina Chiba struck back a couple of minutes later. The ball was played across from Manaka Matsukubo, and Chiba picked it up and struck it ferociously into the bottom right, giving goalkeeper Min-Jung Kim no chance of saving it.

Japan will face host nation Australia in the final at Stadium Australia in Sydney, and kickoff is scheduled for 09:00 AM (GMT). It’s a repeat of the 2014 and 2018 finals, as both teams battle it out for the prestigious title.

Categories
Uncategorized

TRUE BLUES STUN AS CHELSEA RETAIN SUBWAY CUP TITLE FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW

image via @chelseafcw

Chelsea FC:

Lineups: Hampton (GK), Bronze, Buchanan, Buurman, Baltimore, Walsh, Cuthbert ©, Nusken, James, Rytting Kaneryd, Thompson

Subs: Beever-Jones (46’) Bjorn (62’), Kaptein (67’)

Manchester United:

Lineups: Tullis-Joyce(GK), Le Tissier ©, Lundkvist, Park, Mallard, Terland, Riviere, Naalsund, Janssen, Zigiotti, Wangerheim

Subs: Rolfo(59’), Schuller(59’), Awujo (87’)

Chelsea take on Manchester United today in a bid to win the first domestic silverware of the season. Both teams entered the competition in December where Chelsea faced Liverpool and Manchester United hosted Tottenham Hotspur.

For Chelsea, a 9-1 win meant that they were through to the semi finals with ease, but for Manchester United, a winner from Fridolina Rolfo in the 86th minute meant that they too were through to the semis. Here, the red devils travelled to north London where they beat Arsenal 1-0 with thanks to Elisabeth Terland. The blues were much the same, travelling to the blue side of Manchester and also winning 1-0, a first half goal from Wieke Kaptein being the difference maker.

Chelsea took the kick off in the south west through Lauren James and it was her who won the first corner of the game within the same minute.

Sandy Baltimore, however took the corner short and United were able to disposess Chelsea meaning the reds were on the counter attack. Here Hannah Hampton made her first save of the game, knocking thr ball out for a corner.

With the opening stages looking even on both sides, it was Kadeisha Buchanan who made a crucial tackle to stop Elisabeth Terland from getting through on goal, in her first start in 16 months.

Elisabeth Terland once again had a chance for a shot on goal in the 11th minute, however the ball was taken well wide of the goal in her resulting shot.

Chelsea’s counter attack meant that Lauren James found herself in open space before the fifteenth minute mark, and with an effortless pass from Keira Walsh, the attacker had the chance to shoot on goal, this however went just wide of the cross bar, resulting in a goal kick for the reds.

A mistimed run from Erin Cuthbert in the 19th minute meant that Ellen Wangerheim was allowed through on goal, however, the Sweden international couldnt quite get the shot off, forcing Hannah Hampton into yet another save.

A Manchester United throw-in was met by a shaky touch from Domnique Janssen, allowing Lauren James to collect the ball on the right hand side, shooting directly into the back of the net from outside the 6 yard box.

Manchester United responded accordingly however, with Lisa Naalsund blocking Keira Walsh’s pass and linking up with Julia Zigiotti who passed the ball out to Melvine Malard, the forward’s cross however proved too heavy for her companions, soaring past the goal and out for a Chelsea throw.

At the half way point of the first half, Sandy Baltimore barged Jess park off the ball in a fantastic effort to dispossess the England international inside the box, Chelsea’s counter attack led to a throw in inline with the opposite box.

Just three minutes later, United were on the attack once again, however Dutch youngster Veerle Buurman was able to put in a crucial tackle to switch the ball to the other side of the pitch where the resulting shot was sent just wide of the far post.

Erin Cuthbert found the ball in the 33rd minute after a miscommunication in  the opposition’s defence, and with her quick feet, today’s captain was able to get a shot off from range, this was however shot well wide of goal.

The Chelsea captain once again had an opportunity on goal, running in from range however despite the improvement on her previous attempt, this too what shot over the cross bar.

Just minutes later, Alyssa Thompson found herself 1-on-1 with the United Keeper; however, a touch too much meant that the ball was olayed directly into the gloves of Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

Moments before half time, United were on the attack once again, with an accidental nod forward from Buurman which gave Melvine Malard the ball, the Dutch international however, was able to recover the attempted pass to Wangerheim,

With 1 minute added time announced, United had one final bid for an equaliser before the whistle, this however was met by Hannah Hampton who met the ball in the dying stages

Half time: Chelsea 1- 0 Manchester United 

With a switch of sides, Aggie Beever-Jones took to the field in place of Alyssa Thompson ahead of the second half.

Lauren James came close to both hers and Chelsea’s second in the 53rd minute, the ball however her run went out of bounds before she could get her shot off.

Lauren James recieved the first card of the game in the 56th minute due to a dodgy tackle on Julia Zigiotti after being dispossessed by the Sweden international.

Chelsea earned themselves another corner in the 58th minute, Sandy Baltimore finding in which the rebound was sent back into the box, finding the head of Kadeisha Buchanan who headed the ball just wide of goal

Fridolina Rolfo replaced Jayde Riviere and Lea Schuller replaced Ellen Wangerheim in the 59th minute in a bid to find an equaliser for the red devils.

Nathalie Bjorn replaced Kadeisha Buchanan in the 62nd minute, the Swedish internaational making her return from injury after more than three months. This moment however was short lived, with the defender going down on the ball after just 3 minutes and signalling to come off the field just moments later. Wieke Kaptein replaced the defender in the 67th minute.

Lauren James was able to feed the ball into the box in the 70th minute, coming close to the head of Aggie Beever-Jones, Maya Le Tissier got there first however, nodding the ball backwards and forcing Phallon Tullis-Joyce into a high save.

In the 77th minute, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd broke free down the right flank, crossing the ball to Aggie Beever-Jones, the academy graduate was able to chest the ball down and get her boot to it, doubling the defecit infront of the Blues fans.

5 minutes later, Lauren James was through on goal again, with defenders leavingher in yards of space, the England international was able to shoot at goal, however Tullis-Joyce was there to knock the ball out for a corner, this however led to nothing.

In the 86th minute Mamchester United made the final sub of the game, bringing Simi Awujo on in place of Julia Zigiotti.

The substitute earnt the red devils a corner in the final minutes of normal time in a final bid to get a goal, however, even with Phallon Tullis-Joyce in the box, the northern team were unable to find the net.

With 8 minutes of added time on the clock, Lexi Potter replaced Lauren James in the middle, with the youngster taking on a slightly different role to usual.

The 94th minute saw yet another attempt from Manchester United sore above the goal.

Full time: Chelsea 2 – 0 Manchester United

An impressive performance from both teams today, however it was Chelsea who sealed the victory at Ashton Gate, adding to their trophy cabinet once more to retain the title.

Categories
Women’s Asia Cup

AFC Women’s Asian Cup Quarter final draw whos playing who?

Photo: @TheMatildas (X)

With the Asian Cup group stage now completed. The final eight teams remain in the fight for the title.

Host nation Australia take on North Korea on Friday, March 13th, at 10:00 AM (GMT) after finishing runners-up in Group A. North Korea also finished in second place, this time in Group B, finishing behind China. The game is being hosted in Perth, at HBF Park. It’s a battle between two of the top goal scorers in the competition. North Korea’s Myong Yu-Jong and Australia’s Alanna Kennedy sit in tied first place in the goalscoring charts, both on four.

In the second quarter-final, nine-time champions China take on Chinese Taipei on Saturday, March 14th. China finished top of Group B, winning all three of their group games. Chinese Taipei, on the other hand, finished runners-up of Group C, winning twice and losing once. This quarterfinal is also being held at the HBF Park in Perth with kickoff at 05:00 AM (GMT).

It’s another Saturday affair for quarter-final three! Group A winners South Korea play host to the best-placed third-finishing side, Uzbekistan. The tie follows the conclusion of quarter-final two between China and Chinese Taipei; however, this fixture is being played at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

Finally, quarter-final four plays hosts to tournament favourites Japan and the Philippines on Sunday, March 15th. This game is also set to be played at Stadium Australia, with an exciting tie upcoming as Japan look to continue their ruthless form in this competition.

In terms of semi-final placement, the winners of Australia vs North Korea will play the winners of China and Chinese Taipei. Whereas the winners of South Korea vs Uzbekistan will face the winners of Japan vs Philippines as the final of the competition on March 21st grows ever closer.

Categories
Women’s Asia Cup

Japan at the Asian Cup – the team to watch this year?

PHOTO: @jfa_nadeshiko ( X )

It’s no surprise that Japan are a team renowned for their technical playstyle, and with the AFC Women’s Asian Cup now underway in Australia, let’s take a look at why Japan are one of the teams to watch during this tournament.

Since the competition began in 1975, Japan has participated in it seventeen times. Impressively, they have reached the final four of the competition fifteen times.

Their record is as follows. Japan has finished in fourth place three times in this competition, with these finishes coming in 1999, 2003 and 2006, with those tournaments being hosted in the Philippines, Thailand and Australia. They would, however, go on to finish third six times. 

In terms of their best results, they won the competition back-to-back in 2014 when the competition was hosted in Vietnam, before then going on to win it a second consecutive time when the competition made its way over to Jordan in 2018.

In their 2014 final, the Japanese team faced hosts of this year’s competition, Australia. Japan claimed their first Asian Cup title, winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from defender Azusa Iwashimizu on twenty-eight minutes. In 2018, Australia would be put to the sword again by Japan as they claimed their second title; this time, a late goal from Kumi Yokoyama on eighty-four minutes claimed a back-to-back title. 

It’s worth mentioning the amount of talent and depth in their squad this tournament. Players like Hasegawa, Tanikawa and Fujino are sure to shine. Hasegawa this season currently has four goals and three assists in all competitions, her best season for goals and assists at Manchester City, and is a vital midfielder for both club and country. Whereas Tanikawa from Bayern Munich is excelling with eight goals and two assists, partnering up with Aoba Fujino, who is having a wonderful season with Manchester City, contributing six goals and two assists so far in all competitions, Japan’s midfield and attack are certainly something to be looking out for as the competition goes on. 

Their opening game against Chinese Taipei ended in a 2-0 win. With goals from Momoko Tanikawa and Kiko Seike, they’re in pole position at the top of Group C, with India up next; a win for Japan would see their place in the knockouts confirmed as they look to gain qualification to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil.  

They finish their group stage campaign with a trip to HBF Park in Perth, taking on Vietnam, who currently sit second only on goal difference!