Tag: Women’s Super League

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WSL

Chelsea claim victory in 1-0 win over Leicester City

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)

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WSL

Chelsea Women V Leicester City Women Pre-match press conference

Sonia Bompastor speaks to the press off the back of a 3-1 victory at Aston Villa, and ahead of an exciting home fixture against Leicester.

 “It’s your first league game back at Kingsmeadow this Sunday, how much do you enjoy playing there and being in front of the fans?”

“Yeah I love playing at both stadiums, Stamford bridge and Kingsmeadow, I think the fans have been incredible for us last season and the beginning of this season already, the Man City game was incredible, we played Milan fc during preseason at Kingsmeadow and the crowd was fantastic again, so we love to play at Kingsmeadow and the fans are really close to us on the pitch and they are the 12th man so that’s a really nice feeling and again, we can’t wait to be there on Sunday and meet them again for the game.

 

“What would you like to see from your team’s performance on Sunday?

“A strong performance again, strong start in the game” “In possession out of possession we want to look strong we want to make sure we, in terms of performance, bring everything possible for us to have a big chance to win the game. We have been working hard in different things in the game model this week and hopefully I see that on the game on Sunday. “

 

“We saw Alyssa Thompson make her debut on Sunday, how has she been settling into this side and what is she bringing to the team?”

“I had a really good conversation again with Alyssa yesterday and she’s settling in really well and she loves being here in London, coming from LA, that’s a good thing, but again I think she feels already part of the family and I think for me as a manager that’s important we create an environment where people feel part of the family. So, I think she feels good being around the players and being on the pitch. I think she understands what we want to achieve as a team and what we expect from her on the pitch and individually for the team, so everything is clear for her and she’s settling in really well and when I look at her, she’s smiling, so it means she’s happy.”

 

When asked about Sam Kerr’s reaction to scoring and how she’s been since scoring her return goal after being out for so long- if she has sensed a pressure relief?

‘I think she’s been smiling since last Sunday which is really nice to see” “ It was a relief moment for her and everyone in the club’ “People pay to come to the stadium to watch her on the pitch…so to be able to watch her, its great and positive news for her and the club’ “Lots of positives and that’s really nice after everything she’s been through”

 

When asked about the congratulations Sam has received realising, she may be able to hit the same heights as before her operation

“So important for her confidence”  “It was a long time for her… all these months, all these weeks worked off” “ She is now officially back and got her 100th goal, she has a lot of things to achieve with the club, with the team, but we still need to stay patient” “She’s working really hard in training sessions with us with the group, she has the support of everyone in the club and I think that’s a really nice feeling for her.”

 

When asked about how she manages Sam, if she needs a few more bench games before she is ready to start or if she is in a position to start on Sunday

“To be fair, I think she’s probably not 100% yet and probably not ready to start a game” ”From her experience and her quality, even if she has to start a game, maybe she’s not fully fit to play 90 minutes” “She’s been working hard and she’s someone you need to tell to go slowly and stop her a little bit because she’s so excited and wants to be on the pitch as much as possible, which we understand.” “We have to be careful with her still”

 

When asked about how she has seen Hannah Hampton mature and how she gives them the foundations to do what they are able to do

“Really important for a team like Chelsea to have, one of the best goalkeepers in the world if not the best at the moment” “Great goalkeeper for many reasons, she’s a complete goalkeeper, she makes some great saves for the team but also in possession of the ball she brings a lot” “ She’s really confident right now after last season with Chelsea but also after summer in the Euros with England and I think we can see that on the pitch and that is always really positive for the team to have a strong goalkeeper and to have someone who brings confidence into the team.

 

When asked about her squad and how it sets Chelsea aside from the other sides in the league

“This league is probably the most competitive league in the world for that reason because every weekend you have a different challenge to face and the other teams are first of all really motivated to play against us, they want to stop our run” “But also they offer different challenges”  “It’s nice to have in my bench, players that can come in and change the game and make an impact for many reasons so it’s good to have diversity in the squad’ “players who are able to bring physicality, players who are able to bring technicality or tactical knowledge” “Nice to have that diversity in the squad” “Having these different types of players and profiles in the squad make us a little bit more unpredictable”

 

When asked about what she has seen from Leicester so far and said to her players about facing them

“Didn’t really talk about Leicester yet, we will in the next days, but I’m sure everyone knows we drop our first two points last season against them away so I think it’s enough for us to be alert going into that game” “The mental aspects for them, resilience and toughness, they have these two qualities and more than that  so again going into the game on Sunday, we expect that, facing a team that is very well organised defensively and they will take any chance in the game to try to win so we are prepared for that but it’s about finding the balance of focusing on Leicester and also focussing on our strengths to make sure we are able to win the game.  

 

When asked about being worried to face Leicester after Liverpool struggled to beat them

“We expect to face a tough opposition as they were able to win 1-0 with having one player down so it just shows their resilience and the fact they are brave’ “they are really comfortable out of possession and we expect that” “we need to find a way to just make them in trouble and if we focus on that I think we have quality enough to bring it to the game” “I think its important to find the right balance between focussing about the opposition but also focusing on your team and making sure your bringing to the game what you need”

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WSL

The Manchester swap deal: How one of the most exciting transfer sagas unfolded

Image: Jess Park (left) and Grace Clinton (right) at their clubs prior the move Credit: BBC SPORT

By Erin Carroll

Manchester City and Manchester United’s historic rivalry spans back years;
however, on the women’s side, the sides first locked horns with each other in
September of 2019 at the Etihad Stadium in the WSL following Man United’s promotion from the Championship (WSL2). This game saw the Citizens run out one-nil winners, sparking one of the fiercest rivalries between sides.

However, this summer it was off the pitch that did the talking for the two sides. The
summer transfer window has always been home to shock departures and moves, but nothing could prepare fans for either Manchester club, for what was going to happen on deadline day.

Reports surfaced from The Times on the 25th of August that Manchester City were
interested in signing Grace Clinton from United; however, seeing as Clinton’s
contract with the Red Devils was already expiring in summer 2026, many saw this as an unlikely move.

Image: Grace Clinton at Manchester City Credit: The Times

However, just a week later, in a shocking turn of events, Tom Garry at the Guardian
reported that Manchester United were interested in the signing of City’s Academy
graduates and one of the most influential players, Jess Park. Following this rumour,
it was then confirmed by The Athletic hours later that with United interested in Park,
City were looking at making a swoop for Clinton.

It didn’t take long for these rumours to progress, as it was quickly confirmed that
Jess Park had agreed to personal terms to move from the Joie to Leigh Sports
Village in a shock transfer. Upon this news, it became clear that Citizens were eager
to bring in Grace Clinton across Manchester to bolster their squad.

On deadline day it was a scramble to get things done as both players travelled across the city to take part in their respective medicals at the City Football Academy and Carrington training complexes.

During deadline day, before either deal was confirmed, Clinton released a statement across social media confirming her departure from the Red Devils, further speculating that a move to the Citizens had materialised fully.

Image: Jess Park at Manchester United. Credit: Sky Sports

Park’s departure from the city was confirmed shortly after; she was unveiled to United fans early in the evening of the final day in the transfer window, coming off the back of making thirty-eight appearances in all competitions, registering an impressive twelve goals and assists, as well as being part of the Lionesses squad that won the UEFA Women’s Euros in Switzerland.

However, it wouldn’t be until 10:30 PM that the blue side of Manchester confirmed
the signing of Grace Clinton from their rivals for an undisclosed fee. Again, another
player full of quality who made twenty-eight appearances in all competitions, scoring
9 goals, playing primarily as a defensive midfield player.

With both players making the swap across Manchester, their shirt numbers were
confirmed a short while later, with Park taking the vacant number eight at United,
and Grace taking the number six at Manchester City, a number fond to City fans that last belonged to City and England’s legendary defender Steph Houghton.

With the window slamming shut at 11PM that night, both deals were confirmed with
significant time. This transfer is sure to go down as one of the most historic transfers between the two clubs, who are considered such bitter rivals with each other.

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WSL

Spurs Secure 3 Points After England Penalty – Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United

Tottenham Hotspur

Starting XI: Kop (GK), Nildén, Naz, England (C), Holdt, Rybrink, Hunt, Spence, Summanen, Dennis, Koga

Subs used: Tandberg 66’, Graham 66’, Gunning-Williams 78’, Ahtinen 78’, Grant 98’

Goal scorers: England 86’ (P)

West Ham United

Starting XI: Szemik (GK), Siren, Ueki, Nyström, Zadorsky, Denton, Martinez, Asseyi, Gorry, Hanshaw, Piubil

Subs used: Walsh 56’, Morgan 63’, Paví 81’

The WSL saw another opening weekend London derby with Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham. Despite the city being pretty troubled with Tube strikes, fans from both sides showed up and they showed up loud.

1735 fans came to Brisbane Road for their first game of the season. A late penalty secured by captain Bethany England secured the North London side 3 points in the WSL.

Spurs started strong with a very early push, led by Jess Naz. Two attempts from the corner followed, but Spurs were unable to convert them into goals.

From the start, the value of Spurs’ new defensive addition Koga was clear, the 19-year-old Japanese international was holding up the side well.

Any breakthrough West Ham made, Koga was there to retrieve possession. She was the only summer transfer to start for either side in today’s match.

Spurs were well energised but messy. A few awkward set pieces and passes let the Irons straight through.

Summanen went down in the 17th minute but soon got back up. Once play resumed, Asseyi, England and Spence all found themselves in a messy collision. England appeared to get hit in the head and prompted gasps from the crowd.

Naz got the squad back on track with a press that gave Spurs a corner. Still, they were unable to make any more of the chance.

In the 25th minute, a swift ball from Koga hit Ueki right in the face. It was a tough incident to watch, play was stopped, and medics were called. Play resumed and Ueki continued.

More chances then came from Naz, but they were well deflected by the Irons. West Ham were defending pretty consistently, with several good tackles made towards the end of the first half, most notably by Siren.

Nyström and Zadorsky were also making good deflections inside the box. There was always a collective breath of excitement from the stands when the ball reached Spurs skipper England.

The 40th minute saw chaos in the Spurs box. There was chance after chance for West Ham, but no ball managed to get past Kop and the rest of the squad. 

A shot from Naz, again, unleashed shouting and screaming from the home fans. The strike, much to their dismay, ended up over the bar. 

A goalless first half ended after 3 minutes of added time. 

The second half kicked off with a push from the Irons. A shot from Piubel went just wide of the hosts’ net. After having to regain possession, West Ham demonstrated some excellent midfield play to get back into an attacking position. Much like it had been for the rest of the match, however their possession was short lived. 

Play paused then, when Szemik appeared to have twisted her ankle around the post when making a save. After receiving medical attention, the keeper left the pitch. She was replaced by Walsh in the 56th minute.

The tough times continued for both sides, a tackle from Spence left both herself and Irons skipper Gorry on the floor. Spence was clutching her knee which raised some concern in the stands, but both players were able to continue. 

Just over an hour into the game, both Skinner and new head coach Ho decide to show off some of their new summer signings.

For the Irons, Skinner brought on Welsh international Ffion Morgan in place of Piubel. For Spurs, Ho introduces Tandberg to the home fans and Graham made her return to Brisbane Road after an ACL injury last season. They replaced Holdt and Dennis.

It was a dramatic entrance for Tandberg who, just minutes later, was shown the yellow card for a tackle on Asseyi. The decision was met with boos from the crowd. 

Asseyi soon found herself in trouble again. She was given a warning from the referee for a tackle made against Spence. 

Substitutions continued for both sides. Gunning-Williams came on in place of Spence and Ahtinen replaced Naz for the hosts. Not long after, Paví entered the pitch in place of Martinez for the visitors. 

As the game was drawing to a close, Spurs were awarded a penalty for Gorry’s tackle against Summanen in the box.

Skipper England stepped up to the spot and pummelled the ball straight into the top right corner. “Oh Bethany England”, the fans chanted from the stands as their captain opened their scoring for the 25/26 season.

8 minutes of extra time were added to the derby. Just as officials made the announcement, medics entered the pitch to see to Ahtinen, who rejoined play after 2 minutes.

The final minutes of the game found West Ham with a free kick. Taken by Asseyi, the rest of the side lined up desperately to try and salvage a last-minute point, but they were unsuccessful.

Seconds left of the game, and Ho saw another substitution with Grant who came on to replace goal scorer England. After 100 minutes, the whistle was blown and the Spurs began their 25/26 campaign victorious with a 1-0 win.

Spurs captain Bethany England chasing down the ball. Photo: Spurs Women

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WSL

Ellie Carpenter: A dazzling debut

On September 5, 2025, Australian international Ellie Carpenter made a sensational debut for Chelsea in their Women’s Super League season opener against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. The 25-year-old defender, fresh from a high-profile transfer from Olympique Lyonnais, announced her arrival in London with a player of the match performance, helping the reigning champions secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Her impact was immediate, her quality undeniable, and her presence a clear signal of Chelsea’s intent to dominate yet another WSL campaign. Below, we dissect Carpenter’s debut, her role in the match, and what her performance means for Chelsea’s title defence.

Chelsea kicked off their WSL title defence with a thrilling 2-1 win over Manchester City in a pulsating encounter at Stamford Bridge. The Blues took the lead in the 31st minute when new signing Ellie Carpenter outpaced City’s Alex Greenwood down the right flank and delivered a pinpoint low cross for Aggie Beever-Jones to side-foot home. Chelsea doubled their advantage just past the hour mark through Maika Hamano, who swept in a well-worked move.

Manchester City fought back, with Niamh Charles’ unfortunate own goal in the 70th minute sparking a late surge, but Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton stood firm, thwarting effortsBunny Shaw and Yui Hasegawa. Despite City’s bigger presence in front of goal and more shots on target, Chelsea’s clinical finishing and defensive resilience secured the three points. City’s woes were compounded by late injuries to Alex Greenwood and Lily Murphy, leaving new manager Andree Jeglertz frustrated

Ellie Carpenter’s debut was nothing short of electrifying. Deployed as a right wing-back in Sonia Bompastor’s system, Carpenter highlighted the qualities that made her a two-time Champions League winner with Lyon. Her standout moment came in the 31st minute when she surged past Alex Greenwood with blistering pace and delivered a low, precise cross that Aggie Beever-Jones converted for the opening goal of the 2025/26 WSL season. This assist was not a fluke but a testament to Carpenter’s ability to combine speed, vision, and technical precision. Her teammate Beever-Jones praised her post-match, calling her “genuinely one of the quickest players ever” and noting how Carpenter’s “world-class” delivery “laid it on a plate” for the goal.

Carpenter’s attacking contribution did not end with the assist. Her relentless runs down the right flank consistently troubled City’s left side, particularly Greenwood, who struggled to contain her pace. According to Chelsea’s official statistics, Carpenter won eight of nine duels, recovered possession seven times, and maintained an exceptional work rate throughout the match. Her ability to stretch the opposition defence opened spaces for Chelsea’s attackers, creating a dynamic edge that City found difficult to counter.

While her assist grabbed headlines, Carpenter’s defensive work was equally impressive. Playing in a high-intensity match against a city side known for their aggressive pressing under new manager Andree Jeglertz, Carpenter held her own in duels and showed composure under pressure. Her experience at Lyon, where she played under Bompastor, was evident in her seamless adaptation to Chelsea’s system. Bompastor, who described herself as knowing Carpenter “by heart,” praised her debut, stating, “She brought an immediate impact on the performance and the result. She has this quality, so it is a good addition to our squad.”

Carpenter’s role as a wing-back requires a balance of defensive discipline and attacking flair, a challenge she met with aplomb. Her ability to track back and win possession repeatedly disrupted City’s attempts to build momentum, particularly in the second half when they pushed for an equalizer. Her performance was a perfect blend of grit and guile, underscoring why Chelsea signed her to a four-year contract on July 1, 2025.

Carpenter’s debut was not just a personal triumph but a statement of Chelsea’s ambition to extend their WSL dominance. With Bompastor at the helm, having led Chelsea to an invincible season in 2024/25, the addition of a player of Carpenter’s caliber signals a squad built for sustained success.

Her familiarity with Bompastor’s tactics, honed during their time together at Lyon, allowed her to slot into the team effortlessly. Post-match, Carpenter herself highlighted the importance of building relationships with her new teammates, saying, “It was really nice to create those relationships with the team, being new. I think we are really gelling as a team.”

Her debut also carried symbolic weight for Australian football fans, with compatriot Sam Kerr returning to the Chelsea squad after a lengthy injury layoff, though she remained an unused substitute. The prospect of Carpenter and Kerr combining on the pitch in future matches adds an exciting dimension to Chelsea’s campaign.

Manchester City, despite the loss, were no pushovers. They generated more shots on target, with Bunny Shaw squandering several chances and Hannah Hampton denying Yui Hasegawa and Lily Murphy. City’s late pressure, sparked by Charles’ own goal, tested Chelsea’s resolve, but Carpenter’s composure helped steady the ship. The match also highlighted areas for improvement, as Chelsea’s defence, including Carpenter, will need to remain vigilant against teams with City’s attacking firepower.

City’s injury concerns, particularly to Greenwood and Murphy, further tilted the match in Chelsea’s favor late on, but Carpenter’s performance ensured the Blues were already in control. Her ability to thrive in big games, as noted in her pre-match comments about enjoying the “high-vibe” atmosphere at Chelsea, suggests she will be a key figure in crucial fixtures throughout the season.

Ellie Carpenter’s debut was a microcosm of what she brings to Chelsea: pace, precision, and a winning mentality. Her player of the match display against a direct title rival like Manchester City sets a high bar for the season.

For Chelsea, her signing strengthens an already formidable squad, adding depth and dynamism to their right flank. For Carpenter, this debut is a springboard to cement her status as one of the WSL’s elite defenders, potentially eclipsing the legacy of former Chelsea star Lucy Bronze, whom she has been tipped to succeed.

As the WSL season unfolds, Carpenter’s ability to maintain this level of performance will be critical. Her debut suggests she is more than capable of rising to the challenge, and with Bompastor’s trust and a talented squad around her, she could be the key to Chelsea’s pursuit of a seventh consecutive league title.

Ellie Carpenter’s debut against Manchester City was a masterclass in wing-back play, blending attacking flair with defensive resilience. Her assist for Aggie Beever-Jones’ opener, relentless energy, and seamless integration into Chelsea’s system earned her widespread praise and the player of the match award. As Chelsea edged out City in a 2-1 thriller, Carpenter proved she is ready to be a cornerstone of their title defence. If this debut is anything to go by, the WSL is in for a treat watching Carpenter light up Stamford Bridge this season.

Ellie Carpenter: Photo: Chelsea FC