Chelsea end Man Utd's unbeaten start to WSL season

2 years ago 23

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Chelsea scored two goals in four minutes to end Manchester United's perfect start to the Women's Super League season at Leigh Sports Village.

United had won five consecutive games without conceding a single goal.

But one sloppy passage of play gave Sophie Ingle the opportunity to pick out Sam Kerr, who fired her shot into the bottom corner past goalkeeper Mary Earps.

United were opened up again when a long ball got behind the defence and found Kerr in space on the edge of the area and Lauren James coolly converted her simple pass.

United pulled one back through Alessia Russo's swept shot but Erin Cuthbert sealed the deal for Chelsea in injury time.

Chelsea move level on points with Arsenal at the top of the WSL while United drop to third.

Chelsea show experience and class

Defending champions Chelsea, going for their fourth consecutive WSL title, came into this game with five straight wins under their belt and showed their experience against a United team searching for their first ever top-three finish.

Although the first half didn't present many clear-cut opportunities, they were more comfortable on the ball and seemed happy to keep pegging United back.

The Blues had an early shout for a penalty when Maya Le Tissier caught Guro Reiten just inside the area - but it did look like a slip and, perhaps coupled with Reiten's lack of appeal, the referee didn't see enough for a spot-kick.

Chelsea came close when Niamh Charles looped in what at first seemed like a cross but Earps had to be alert as her fingertip save kept it out and a searching Cuthbert cross made its way to Kerr who volleyed across the box to Pernille Harder, whose header was just wide.

Cuthbert, who had been fairly quiet, took her chance when it came and her deflected shot capped off a professional performance where the Blues could have probably scored more.

Defending champions Chelsea remain without manager Emma Hayes as she continues to recover from a hysterectomy but showed their class to execute a professional performance.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Man Utd Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

27Earps
6BlundellSubstituted forStaniforthat 64'minutes
15Le Tissier
21Turner
3Thorisdóttir
12LaddSubstituted forLeonat 87'minutes
10ZelemBooked at 90mins
22ParrisSubstituted forThomasat 78'minutes
7Toone
11Galton
23RussoSubstituted forWilliamsat 79'minutes

Substitutes

4Moore
8Bøe Risa
9Thomas
19Leon
20Tounkara
26Clinton
28Williams
32Baggaley
37Staniforth

Chelsea Women

Formation 3-4-3

30Berger
26Buchanan
4Bright
16Eriksson
21Charles
22Cuthbert
5Ingle
11ReitenSubstituted forRytting Kanerydat 83'minutes
10JamesSubstituted forCarterat 90+1'minutes
20Kerr
23Harder

Substitutes

1Musovic
3Nouwen
7Carter
9England
15Périsset
17Fleming
19Rytting Kaneryd
27Abdullina
32Orman

Referee:Cheryl Foster

Attendance:6,186

Live Text

Match ends, Manchester United Women 1, Chelsea Women 3.
Second Half ends, Manchester United Women 1, Chelsea Women 3.
Lucy Staniforth (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sophie Ingle (Chelsea Women).
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Katie Zelem.
Goal! Manchester United Women 1, Chelsea Women 3. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Jess Carter replaces Lauren James.
Katie Zelem (Manchester United Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Maya Le Tissier.
Attempt blocked. Sam Kerr (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pernille Harder.
Substitution, Manchester United Women. Adriana Leon replaces Hayley Ladd.
Attempt missed. Hayley Ladd (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Martha Thomas.
Attempt blocked. Millie Turner (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Corner, Manchester United Women. Conceded by Millie Bright.
Lucy Staniforth (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lauren James (Chelsea Women).
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd replaces Guro Reiten.
Attempt missed. Sam Kerr (Chelsea Women) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Sophie Ingle.
Attempt blocked. Lauren James (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Substitution, Manchester United Women. Rachel Williams replaces Alessia Russo.