Chelsea go top with 1-0 win against Man CityChelsea returned to the top of the Women’s Super League table with a crucial victory over rivals Manchester City who went down to 10 players in the second half.
Goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita came foolishly rushing out of her area and took out Alyssa Thompson and received a red card, with Chelsea already leading 1-0.
The Blues went in front on the stroke of half-time when Sandy Baltimore finally struck the back of the net with a ferocious strike.
Chelsea had already missed countless opportunities but got the goal they deserved and were able to hold on at Stamford Bridge.
Yamashita’s sending off stumped City’s hopes of a comeback after they had put Chelsea under pressure in the second half.
Striker Aggie Beever-Jones, who replaced the injured Melvine Malard 35 minutes in, hit the post moments after goalkeeper Eartha Cumings came onto the pitch.
The result is a blow to defending champions City, who knew this would be their toughest test yet and were unable to match Chelsea.
City’s unbeaten run also ends, while Chelsea are yet to lose a game this season and are now a point above their opponents at the top of the table.
Chelsea analysis: Blues chasing WSL title
Chelsea had a frustrating night in the Women’s Champions League against Sweden’s BK Hacken on Tuesday and were held to a goalless draw despite creating countless opportunities – another display where they lacked ruthlessness.
It raised questions marks in the build-up to their game against City and Chelsea almost fell into the same trap in a dominant first half.
Malard came close on several occasions, Thompson skewed an effort over the bar and Ellie Carpenter’s crosses went begging.
It needed a moment of magic which Baltimore provided with seconds of the half to go when she cut inside off the right and fired an unstoppable strike past goalkeeper Yamashita.
It was a deserved lead fo Chelsea and it was in part down to a change made 12 minutes into the game when Kadeisha Buchanan was replaced by Veerle Buurman.
The Netherlands international immediately made a difference, tightening up the backline and monitoring the dangerous Khadija Shaw, who had terrorised Buchanan from the first whistle.
Whether or not Buchanan’s substitution was tactical or down to an injury was unclear – Bompastor said she would shed light on it later – but her team-mates were surprised to see the fourth official’s board go up.
An injury to Malard 23 minutes later meant Bompastor only had one more window, aside from the half-time break, to make a substitution.
But Chelsea did not need to worry about that until late in the game after Yamashita’s sending off gave them a player advantage and they were able to hold on to their narrow lead.
City still caused them problems but on the whole, Chelsea defended their box well and were a constant threat at the other end.
Their ambitions of reclaiming the WSL title remain on course and this was an important mental victory over their closest rivals in the first meeting between the two this season.
