Unbeaten in the WSL in 2023, Aston Villa faced their biggest challenge yet on Sunday evening. Defending league champions, Chelsea, were welcomed to the Bescot Stadium.
Pundits suggested that this was the ‘best possible time’ to face Chelsea, following their Champions League win against Lyon on Thursday, which was pushed to extra time and penalties. This caused Emma Hayes to make five changes to her team, including moving Lauren James to the bench.
Carla Ward had her own selection headache with the news that both right-backs were unavailable through injury, Sarah Mayling due back after the international break and Evie Rabjohn only able to make the bench. Ward turned to experienced midfielder Lucy Staniforth to slot into the back four and Laura Blindkilde took her place further forward.
Hannah Hampton kept her place in goal and, as expected, was called into action early in the game. Jelena Čanković picked up the ball on the right wing and played Johanna Rytting Kaneryd into the box in the 13th minute. She pulled the ball back for Guro Reiten to hit first time in the centre of the goal but Hampton reacted quickly to make the save.
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Villa’s first major chance of their own came in the 18th minute, when Kenza Dali lifted a ball over the top of Lehmann on the right wing. Lehmann was able to find Rachel Daly at the edge of the 6 yard box and the striker tried to flick the ball into the bottom right corner, but Mušović was alert to make the save.
Chelsea’s opener came in the 22nd minute through Čanković. Jessie Fleming’s free kick was sent in towards the far post before being cleared away to Reiten. Reiten floated the ball back into a crowded area and Čanković got her shot away from close range, after Hampton had made an initial save. It was suggested that Hampton was fouled in the build up as she was clearly impeded by Chelsea captain Magdalena Eriksson falling on top of her, but the goal stood.
Sam Kerr had the opportunity to double their lead in the 37th minute, when the ball was won back in the attacking half by Čanković. Kerr was sent through on goal but fortunately for Villa, she hit the crossbar and Dan Turner was there to clear.
The high press caused issues again minutes before half-time. Chelsea seemed to target Villa’s way of playing out from the back and Reiten pounced on a loose pass from Daly to Dali. She passed the ball out right to Čanković, who sent it back for Reiten fire into the bottom left corner.
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Villa looked brighter in the start to the second half, but it was Chelsea that were able to score again next. Another Fleming free kick was glanced on to Sam Kerr, who cut in from the right and found the top right corner.
Despite being 0-3 down, Villa continued their hunt for a goal. Hanson looked threatening down the left wing and managed to find Daly in the 76th minute, but her first time effort flew narrowly wide. Jordan Nobbs had a similar chance on the right side of the box, assisted by Laura Blindkilde with 5 minutes to go, but her looping effort was saved.
Following the defeat, Villa remain 5th in the WSL while Chelsea climb back into second place. Despite the score-line, Villa had more possession than the champions, the same number of corners, and 12 shots compared to their 14. It was Chelsea’s composure and experience that made the difference, but Carla Ward and the team will have the opportunity to put things right in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Sunday 16th April.
AUTHOR | GEORGIA HOMER
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