The reigning Women’s Super League champions, Chelsea, started their campaign with a resounding victory, defeating Aston Villa 1-0 at home. The match saw a thrilling display of football with Chelsea dominating the first half, showcasing their attacking prowess through winger Guro Reiten, who narrowly missed the target with two powerful shots. However, Aston Villa managed to hold their own, creating some dangerous opportunities in the initial stages of the game. The breakthrough for Chelsea came in the 36th minute, courtesy of a stunning strike from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd. The Swedish forward, cutting in from the left, expertly controlled the ball, switching it to her left foot, and curling it into the top corner with a sublime finish.
The second half witnessed a determined Aston Villa, with Rachel Daly almost pulling her side level with a header that narrowly missed the target, bouncing off the crossbar. The visitors displayed resilience, posing a significant challenge to Chelsea with their persistent pressure. However, the Blues’ defense held strong, and Chelsea’s keeper, Hannah Hampton, shone with two crucial saves, including a brilliant stop to deny Sabrina D’Angelo, solidifying the victory.
New Chelsea coach, Sonia Bompastor, expressed her satisfaction with the win, acknowledging the difficulty of starting a season with a victory. “It’s always important to start with the win. I hoped maybe we could score more goals and be more relieved. But everyone told me ‘welcome to the league’ and this is why I came,” Bompastor told the BBC. She further emphasized the importance of playing a good style of football, stating, “The result is always important. I want to see my team play a good style of football. It’s never easy, but I want players to enjoy it on the pitch and make fans happy.” The victory marks a promising start for the new Chelsea manager, setting the tone for a potentially successful season.
