WSL: Chelsea start new era with a win
Chelsea Women 1 - 0 Aston Villa Women
There was collective sigh of relief echoed around Kingsmeadow as Chelsea secured their first win of the post-Emma Hayes era.
Sonia Bompastor, the woman tasked with following in the footsteps of one of football's greatest managers, was warmly welcomed on a balmy evening under the lights on the outskirts of London.
Stepping into the shoes of a legend – and there’s no doubt that 14-time major trophy winner Hayes is exactly that – can be an intimidating prospect. Just ask David Moyes or Arne Slot, following last weekend’s defeat at Anfield.
Aston Villa arrived determined to earn their first points in this fixture, having lost all eight of their previous encounters with Chelsea.
The visitors quietly impressed during the first half. Early signs suggested they might be overwhelmed by the occasion, but they successfully navigated a nervy start – including a significant miss by Chelsea's Guro Reiten – and began to settle into the game.
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New signing Missy Bo Kearns looked lively in the Number 10 role, linking up well with Chasity Grant on the right wing. Grant should have put Villa ahead midway through the first half, but her shot was inadvertently blocked by Kearns herself.
Chelsea finally broke the deadlock in the 36th minute when Johanna Rytting Kaneryd received the ball on the edge of the box, cut inside onto her left foot, and curled a long-range effort past Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo.
Villa continued to frustrate the home side for much of the second half, enjoying the lion’s share of possession but struggling to create any real danger for Hannah Hampton in the Chelsea goal.
This was partly down to Chelsea’s solid defensive unit. Millie Bright and Kadeisha Buchanan formed a formidable partnership in front of Hampton, while new right-back Lucy Bronze brought a composed presence to the back line.
Undoubtedly, tougher tests lie ahead for Bompastor. No manager has ever won the WSL in their debut season, and the 44-year-old will face sterner challenges than an Aston Villa side also adjusting under new head coach Robert de Pauw.
