After an excruciatingly close game at the top of the Barclays Women’s Super League, Chelsea came out victors with through a late Guro Reiten penalty – taking a huge step towards the title.
Arsenal had plenty of chances in the first half to put the result beyond doubt, but some poor finishing meant that Reiten’s 84th-minute penalty decided the match. There was an additional kick in the teeth for Arsenal with a late red card for Katie McCabe, adding insult to injury as they slipped ten points away from the top spot.
For Chelsea, an important three points will taste even sweeter with the unveiling of Naomi Girma – who becomes the world’s most expensive female footballer – in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful before kickoff.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs it happened
In a game perhaps expected to be a cagey affair, Chelsea came out of the blocks firing. The opening ten minutes saw a barrage of Chelsea attacks, primarily down the left-hand side with Sandy Baltimore and Niamh Charles linking up well. Erin Cuthbert had the game’s first real chance when she danced into space and pulled her shot from range just wide, but the Blues certainly dominated early on.
Arsenal struggled to maintain possession on the slippery Stamford Bridge pitch but slowly grew into the half, with the in-form Alessia Russo pouncing on a rare loose pass from Cuthbert and dragging her shot inches past the post. Soon after Beth Mead had a close-range effort saved low from Hannah Hampton and the power dynamic had shifted.
The game grew into a stalemate as the Gunners settled in. Both sides had chances; Arsenal’s Emily Fox cut inside but her weak shot was simply saved. Charles again caused the Arsenal backline problems, setting Mayra Ramírez up inches from goal – but she failed to connect properly.
Unfortunately, the end of the half was marked by an injury to Caitlin Foord, forcing Renée Slegers to bring on Frida Maanum. Mead saw one more effort fly past the post as the first half closed without score.
Embed from Getty ImagesChelsea started the second half stronger, with substitute Maika Hamano doing well to set up Kaneryd inside the Arsenal box, but the visitors breathed a sigh of relief as the shot bobbled towards Van Domselaar.
Chelsea, knowing even a draw would be a significant step towards the title, were happy to let the game come to a standstill. A frustrated Arsenal brought on second striker Stina Blackstenius for Mead in the 66th minute to enliven their attack.
Maanum almost put Arsenal in front after Chelsea failed to clear their lines, but leaned back too much and couldn’t have been closer to the top corner, but Sleger’s side were still fighting for an opening goal.
Maanum brought the game back to life when Chelsea failed to clear their lines and she came within inches of punishing them, instead sending her effort just off target. Shaken awake, Chelsea almost replied when Lucy Bronze connected with a Macario free kick, and Arsenal did well to scramble it off the line.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt felt as though this would be a game decided by moments, and that dramatically came to fruition in the 82nd minute. Referee Emily Heaslip pointed to the spot when Arsenal captain Kim Little brought down Lauren James in the box on the Chelsea forward’s first WSL game since their October meeting with Arsenal. To add insult to injury, Katie McCabe was sent off in the aftermath apparently for foul and abusive language. Reiten slotted home the penalty, and there was no way back for Arsenal
In typical Chelsea fashion they managed the remaining minutes calmly – and might have added a second through Hamano but for an excellent save from Van Domselaar – and saw out a professional 1-0 win. The three points puts them nine points clear at the top of the WSL – and having not lost a game in all competitions, it is difficult to see who could stop them holding onto the title for a sixth successive season in May.
Lineups
CHE: Hampton, Bronze, Bright (C), Björn, Charles, Nusken, Cuthbert, Kaneryd, Macario, Baltimore, Ramírez
ARS: Van Domselaar, Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe, Little (C), Cooney-Cross, Caldentey, Foord, Mead, Russo.
Featured image credit – Sebastien Mercier
