Chelsea completed an unbeaten Barclays Women’s Super League season with victory against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge after Aggie Beever-Jones scored a late winner. Chelsea were already confirmed after victory against Manchester United last week was coupled with Arsenal’s defeat at Aston Villa. Today was a matter of the champions collecting their crown.
Chelsea started with a back three against their Merseyside opponents, with Naomi Girma, Millie Bright and Nathalie Björn all starting. Chelsea made nine changes from the side that beat Tottenham 1-0 last weekend with a return to the line up more regularly seen by the Chelsea faithful this season. Chelsea remained without long term absentees Sam Kerr and Lauren James.
Liverpool’s captain Niamh Fahey brought to an end a storied career at both club and international level this afternoon against her former club Chelsea. Liverpool were without both Leanne Kiernan and Lucy Parry as Amber Whitely had confirmed during the week. The visitors made no changes from the side that lost 2-0 at Anfield in the Merseyside derby last week.
The line ups:
CHE: Hampton; Bronze, Bright, Björn, Girma, Charles, Walsh, Nüsken, Kaptein, Baltimore, Beever-Jones
LIV: Laws, Evans, Fisk, Bonner, Hinds, Höbinger, Nagano, Kerr, Holland, Smith, Haug
The Action:
Prior to kick off Liverpool provided the champions with a guard of honour, a classy gesture from the visiting side as the custom usually only extends to the first match after the champions win the trophy.
After an initial few minutes of sizing each other up, Chelsea moved through the gears with Girma finding Niamh Charles bursting forward, her pass was met with a touch from Baltimore before Sjoeke Nüsken’s through ball to Aggie Beever-Jones was the right idea, but was also overcooked.
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Chelsea continued to create some early pressure with both Beever-Jones and Nüsken directing efforts wide of the post. As the first half drew to a close, Wieke Kaptein fired a volley into the stands. Liverpool came close to stealing the lead away from the home side with moments remaining, after Millie Bright missed a pass Marie Höbinger almost scored a goal of the season contender: Feinting left then right she chipped Hampton from outside the box but the ball could only nestle on top of the net.
Not to be outdone, Chelsea tried for goal of the season themselves, brilliant running from Sandy Baltimore down the wing saw her pull the ball back to Kaptein, the Dutch youngster with her back to goal backheeled just wide.
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The opening salvo of the second half was executed by Beever-Jones, cutting onto her right foot she attempted to curl her effort into Rachel Laws’ top corner but her effort evaded the target. Chelsea felt they might have had a penalty after Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, introduced off the bench played Beever-Jones in behind, Taylor Hinds came flying into the back of the Chelsea forward but nothing was given.
Just minutes later Kaneryd was provider once against as she found Baltimore who dragged her effort just wide when the crowd were baying for it to find the bottom corner. Liverpool were beginning to find some space in the Chelsea half but their momentum would be stalled after Olivia Smith limped off the pitch injured.
Chelsea continued to push for a winning goal as the match wore on, Rytting Kaneryd continued to be the player at the heart of everything positive for Chelsea and her shot on goal was comfortably save by Laws. Liverpool had a threat of their own as Taylor Hinds’ effort direct from a free kick with mere minutes to play bounced on the roof of the net.
However with mere minutes remaining Chelsea took victory on the day, Beever-Jones showing electric pace found her way in behind before slamming the ball into the back of the net past Laws, 1-0 to the champions.
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Chelsea Player Ratings:
Hannah Hampton – 6/10 – As ever a confident presence at the back for Chelsea. Did extremely well to be high off her line and stop breaks with the pacey Olivia Smith in behind.
Lucy Bronze – 6/10 – Involved throughout and enjoyed the freedom afforded to her by a three at the back, often marauding arcoss the pitch.
Millie Bright – 6/10 – Restored to the starting line up after a week off last week, her mistake led to Liverpool’s only real chance of the first half.
Naomi Girma – 7/10 – The American looked at her most assured today since returning from injury. Girma made a number of vital interceptions and big tackles. Girma’s intelligence and awareness of danger was particularly impressive. She made 65 passes all of which were accurate.
Nathalie Björn– 6/10 – Put in a solid display, was substituted at half time, unclear if it was injury related.
Niamh Charles – 6/10 – Misplaced a number of passes against her former team, but like Bronze was heavily involved enjoying the added freedom of the back five.
Keira Walsh – 6/10 – A smooth technician at the base of the Chelsea midfield, kept things ticking.
Sjoeke Nüsken – 7/10 – Was at the heart of everything for Chelsea early in the match it seemed.
Wieke Kaptein – 7/10 – Her majestic backheel at the end of the first half was almost a moment of magic in an otherwise quiet half.
Sandy Baltimore – 8/10 – Always industrious and always a threat for Chelsea, she was unable to open the scoring with a gilt edged chance early in the second half. Her incredible close control was on show more than once. Her three key passes were more than any other player on the pitch.
Aggie Beever-Jones – 8/10 – Showed moments of invention and her electric ability to take a player on in the first half. Another last minute winner against Liverpool, the only consolation for the Reds they won’t have to face Beever-Jones again until next season.
SUBS:
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – (46′ for Nathalie Björn)
Erin Cuthbert – (46′ for Wieke Kaptein)
Caterina Macario – (76′ for Sandy Baltimore)
Guro Reiten – (76′ for Sjoeke Nüsken)
Ashley Lawrence – (76′ for Lucy Bronze)
Liverpool Player Ratings
Rachel Laws – 6/10 – The Liverpool goalkeeper was rarely tested but was composed when required on the ball, struggled to be able to do anything about Beever-Jones’ winner.
Grace Fisk – 8/10 – Made some lung busting runs into the box early in the match providing some early invention from the back. Made a couple of vital early interceptions and tackles, a rock at the back.
Gemma Evans – 8/10 – Made 10 defensive actions today with a game leading total of five interceptions in a solid defensive display. Made more than double the clearances the next highest player in the match did.
Gemma Bonner – 8/10 – Was outpaced a couple of times and struggled in one on one direct challenges but made a number of key defensive actions also, more than any other player.
Taylor Hinds – 7/10 – Managed to almost score late on direct from a free kick, her effort landing on the roof of the net.
Fuka Nagano – 6/10 – Had a largely anonymous match today.
Sam Kerr – 7/10 – The Scottish midfielder gave an impressive understated performance with more key passes than any other player in the Liverpool team.
Marie Höbinger – 7/10 – Almost scored a magnificent goal capitalising on a Millie Bright mistake. Another battling display.
Ceri Holland – 8/10 – Made the most tackles in the first half and won the most duels, a battling performance from the Welsh woman, winning 11 of her 12 duels by the time she was withdrawn.
Olivia Smith – 5/10 – Struggled a little especially as Chelsea had prepared for the threat she posed after they were torn apart at times by the Canadian in the FA Cup semi final at Kingsmeadow. Limped off injured at the end of the match in a sad end to a magnificent season for the Canadian.
Sophie Roman Haug – 5/10 – Struggled to get involved and was starved of service up front.
SUBS:
Jenna Clark (69′ for Olivia Smith)
Yana Daniels (75′ for Sophie Roman Haug)
Cornelia Kapocs (75′ for Ceri Holland)
Niamh Fahey – 10/10 – The last dance of the belle of the ball. We shall not see her like again. (84′ for Grace Fisk)
Jasmine Matthews (84′ for Fuka Nagano)
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Ceri Holland
The Welsh midfielder stifled the Chelsea midfield, she made 6 tackles and won 11 duels. It was no coincidence that Chelsea exerted more control and scored the winner while she was not on the pitch.