Chelsea ran out 4-2 victors against Brighton in the WSL at Kingsmeadow on Sunday afternoon.
Sjoeke Nüsken opened and closed the scoring for The Blues. Agnes Beever-Jones and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd also added to their tally. Jelena Cankovic’s goal gave Brighton hope just before half time. Kiko Seike brought it to 3-2 in the second half.
Image Credit – Harry Gillies
The match started off at blistering pace as the teams battled in the drizzle and grey of the fading Storm Darragh.
Chelsea came out with a relentless high press. Erin Cuthbert, who signed for The Blues 8 years ago to the day, panicked the Brighton back line into giving away a corner. This set the tone for how Chelsea would impose themselves on the game.
The early momentum seemed to be with Chelsea but after five minutes, Brighton deployed a press of their own. Jelena Čanković harassed Nüsken and the ball fell for her to have a shot by the keeper. Nüsken did well to get back and clear it off the line. An early warning that Brighton would never be out of the fight.
The first 20 minutes saw Chelsea’s players combine and play lovely, free flowing football from midfield to attack.
Erin Cuthbert was the main architect of Chelsea’s fast midfield play as she effortlessly floated passes into the channels. She is a player that always seems to have time and space, a clear sign of a top class midfielder.
Ashley Lawrence’s driving runs from full back gave Chelsea more momentum as they searched for the opener.
Brighton winger, Kiko Seike, kept the Blues on their toes as she made incisive runs in behind the Chelsea back line.
Whilst Chelsea had more possession and the bulk of chances, Brighton always threatened on the break. Hannah Hampton was forced to make a point blank body save from a Jorelyn Martinez header at the back post.
Brighton stayed resolute as Chelsea wasted more chances, but a goal was surely coming.
With 10 minutes left in the half, Nüsken won the ball and hit a side foot shot into the bottom left corner. Despite a valiant attempted clearance from Guro Bergsvand, the ball crossed the line and Chelsea were 1-0 up.
Image Credit – Harry Gillies
Brighton tried to respond immediately as Marisa Olislagers drove forward and arched a left foot cross onto the head of Seike. Her effort flew towards the Chelsea top corner but Hampton palmed the ball away in what was the save of the day.
Every phase of play looked likely to produce a goal in the closing stages of the half.
Cuthbert again showed for the ball in midfield. The Scottish international played a high ball over the Brighton defence which Beever-Jones chased down. The Chelsea striker nicked the ball from Sophie Baggaley, before elegantly rounding the keeper and rolling it into an empty net. The goal was a reward for the Chelsea high press and the home side were 2-0 up.
Brighton were not going to lie down as half time approached, and they launched an attack from midfield. The Seagulls crafted a quick passing move. After working their way into the box, the ball came across to Čanković who hit a beautiful first time shot, perfectly bending away from Hampton into the bottom left corner. 2-1 at half time left the game evenly poised.
Image Credit – Harry Gillies
Second Half
Chelsea continued to dominate possession with slick passing in the opening minutes of the second half.
Half time substitute Catarina Macario, on for Wieke Kaptein, played an inch perfect high pass from the left wing straight to Lucy Bronze in the Brighton box. Her effort was saved, but Rytting Kaneryd promptly reacted to the rebound and managed to get a leg on the ball to see it over the line.
3-1 Chelsea.
Now, Brighton would have to dig deep after this early second half blow. The Seagulls continued to play well between the lines and saw several long shots sting the hands of Hampton.
As the rain lashed the Kingsmeadow grass, Brighton pressed Hampton into giving away the ball which fell to Seike. The Japanese winger took one touch in the box and smashed it into the back of the net to put Brighton within touching distance of a comeback with 20 minutes to go.
The pace of the game ramped up again as the Seagulls chased an equaliser but Chelsea were winning the set pieces, taking the sting out of Brighton’s play.
After a fast move down the left wing, Macario had a chance to seal it for Chelsea but her shot went wide of the post.
With 10 minutes to go, Cuthbert also threw away a chance at winning it for Chelsea with a shot that only found the side net.
Seike had been excellent throughout. She was played through on goal and in the moment to put her name in lights by scoring an equaliser, instead shot straight at Hampton.
Chelsea were determined to settle the game once and for all and attacked Brighton with more pace and power down the wings.
Just as four minutes were added, a corner was swung in towards Nüsken who headed it home for the Blues to make it 4-2.
Chelsea had won their ninth game in a row, equalling the record of consecutive wins in the WSL. As ‘Blue Is The Colour’ sounded through the ground, Chelsea fans left Kingsmeadow happy to have cheered the team on through the rain.
Image Credit – Harry Gillies
Harry Gillies
Harry is a Glaswegian Sports Journalist and Football Editor for the Sports Gazette. Fluent in Spanish, he avidly follows and writes about La Liga and South American football. He is a Celtic supporter with a particular interest in the great Scottish managers who helped shape British Football history.
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