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Chelsea picked up where they had left off in the Women’s Super League with an industrious win. Sonia Bompastor had her Australian contingent to thank for the goals with Ellie Carpenter and Sam Kerr scoring in either half to seal victory.
All eyes were on Hannah Hampton who had to deal with the fallout from the publication in the Guardian of extracts from Mary Earps’s new book on Friday night. In “All In”, which is to be published next week, the former England No 1 revealed there had been a breakdown in the relationship between the two goalkeepers until Earps retired before the European Championships this summer.
The Chelsea goalkeeper was named in the lineup, as she has been for every league game this season. Bompastor made two changes to the team that had featured in their Champions League victory over Paris FC. Lucy Bronze marked her return to full fitness, joining Millie Bright and Nathalie Björn in a back three with Ellie Carpenter coming in at wing-back.
Jocelyn Prêcheur will have been well aware of the challenge that faced his new-look London City side in their first league meeting with the title holders. The WSL newcomers have impressed with three wins from their opening six games. England youngsters Freya Godfrey and Isobel Goodwin both started in an unchanged team from their last outing, a narrow League Cup defeat at the hands of Leicester. Finding stability and consistency has been key for Prêcheur and with the owner, Michele Kang, watching from the stands, it was the perfect opportunity to see how they can perform against the country’s top side.
London City made a slow start and fell behind inside six minutes. Chelsea issued an early warning when Erin Cuthbert pounced on a lax pass from Wassa Sangaré. The defender recovered brilliantly to block the shot but it was a sign of what was to come.
There was a rare start for Guro Reiten and the 31-year-old was integral to the opening goal when Sandy Baltimore ran on to her sweeping pass out to the left. The France international produced a dangerous low cross that eluded the outstretched Elene Lete and sat up on a plate for Carpenter to turn home.
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The hosts maintained the pressure and chances continued to fall their way. Both wing-backs were enjoying a lot of space to run into and deliveries into the area from both sides were causing issues. Aggie Beever-Jones just missed a curling Baltimore cross before Sjoeke Nüsken headed Bronze’s delivery over from an unmarked position.
Manchester City 1-0 West Ham
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Manchester City extended their winning run to six matches with a 1-0 victory over West Ham to keep the pressure on Chelsea at the top of the Women's Super League.
Aoba Fujino opened the scoring in the first half before Gracie Prior struck the crossbar in the second period.
West Ham stay rooted to the foot of the table having lost all seven of their matches, and have now failed to score in four straight games.
City dominated throughout at the Joie Stadium and took a deserved lead with 26 minutes gone. Shelina Zadorsky lost the ball to Vivianne Miedema who drove towards the visitors' area before playing in Fujino who struck first time.
Rehanne Skinner's struggling side came close to drawing level just 10 minutes later when Viviane Asseyi's shot clipped the top of the bar.
Prior nearly doubled City's advantage in the 70th minute when she rose highest to meet Yui Hasegawa's free-kick only for her header to hit the bar before Miedema inadvertently blocked Fujino's follow-up.
Laura Blindkilde Brown wasted another good opportunity for the hosts with 10 minutes remaining before Khadija Shaw snatched at a chance in the closing stages.
Photograph: John Clifton/REUTERS
If there had been any concern about Hampton’s mindset coming into the game, it was quickly put to bed as she put in an assured performance. Goodwin was proving to be London City’s most dangerous outlet. The 22-year-old had the pace to get in behind the Chelsea’s backline and set up Godfrey only for the winger to fail to connect with her cross. Minutes later, she was through again but was denied by an alert Hampton who rushed out of her area to block the shot.
The visitors enjoyed 44% possession in the first half and Prêcheur’s side continued to push for an equaliser leading into the break as Goodwin fired over from close range before the referee waved away a penalty shout after Sangaré went down in the box.
The game played out in much the same vein after the break with half chances at both ends. Godfrey registered the visitors’ first shot on target early on and Goodwin had yet more opportunities while Beever-Jones and Björn came close down the other end.
Chelsea consolidated their victory in the closing stages as Kerr marked her league return to Stamford Bridge in style. Her delicately struck finish floated over Lete deep into injury-time to ensure Chelsea maintained their one point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table.
