Sonia Bompastor and her team faced off with Manchester City for the third time in a row. Kerolin opened the scoring for the hosts, marking her first Women’s Super League goal. Chelsea kept fighting for the equalizer and eventually scored the winning goal late in the second half. Read our match report on Manchester City vs Chelsea here.
Match Highlights
Kerolin’s first Women’s Super League goal.
Aggie Beever-Jones scored the equalizer.
Cuthbert heads home the 1-2.
Source: Manchester City on X
The Citizens take the lead
The first massive opportunity came for Manchester City when Roord sent Kerolin through the Chelsea defense. Her run was timed perfectly, leaving Charles chasing her. Hannah Hampton came off her line and made a brilliant block to deny Kerolin’s effort.
Manchester City remained in control throughout the opening 15 minutes, but Chelsea looked much better than they did midweek in the Women’s Champions League.
Kerolin Masterclass
The visitors conceded the first goal. Kerolin charged down the right once again, but this time Bright and Charles were in front of her, trying to slow her down. The Brazilian international kept her cool, slowed into the box and found a tiny bit of space to take a shot. The ball rolled in, and Hampton had not chance to stop it.
Manchester City nearly doubled their lead when Jess Park fired from outside the box. Just seconds before, Kerolin had been fouled by Bright, and the referee blew her whistle before the ball went in. Despite loud protests from Manchester City, the decision stood, and they had to settle for a free kick. Hasegawa stepped up and rattled the crossbar.
Second Half: Both sides start unchanged
Chelsea equalized just minutes into the second half, with Aggie Beever-Jones at the start and end of the attack. She sent Kaptein away down the right, who found Rytting Kaneryd in the box. She cut it back to Beever-Jones who kept her cool and slotted it home.
In the following minutes, Rytting Kaneryd had two big chances. The first was saved by Keating and the second came off the post.
Sonia Bompastor made her first change: Cuthbert on for Hamano
Chelsea push for the 1-2
Laia Aleixandria and Keating worked together to block Rytting Kaneryd’s third attempt. Chelsea came very close to taking the lead there, as Rytting Kaneryd was unmarked in the box.
Nick Cushing took Coombs off for Fowler.
Mayra Ramírez and Keira Walsh came on for Jean-Francois and Beever-Jones.
With twenty minutes on the clock, Manchester City had a good spell, but Fowler and Miedema failed to find the target.
Aleixandri and Hasegawa came off for Murphy and Wienroither.
Around the 80th minute Manchester City threw everything they had at the Chelsea box. However, good defensive work from Bright and Bronze kept City from the back of the net. Bompastor made her final substitutions: Rytting Kaneryd and Kaptein off for Fishel and Macario.
Thrilling end to an exciting game
The next chance fell to Chelsea as Lauren James charged towards the City box, withg only Grace Prior there to stop her. She went for a shot just outside the box but Keating was able to make the save. The corner that followed was extremely messy before City managed to clear the ball. Chelsea picked it up again around the halfway line and quickly launched their next attack. Once again, Keating made an important save.
Nick Cushing added Ouahabi for Jess Park.
CHelsea score the winner in the final stage of the game. Lauren James passed to Lawrence, who got past Casparij, sents in a cross and Cuthbert was there to head it in the back of the net. There were six minutes added on, but it was not enough time for City to find an equalizer. Chelsea held onto their ubeaten streak in the Women’s Super League.