It has been a difficult month for Aston Villa in the WSL, as the winning start was followed up by consecutive defeats to Everton and West Ham. Sitting on 6 points from 4 games, Villa were comfortably midtable going into this weekendβs game against the champions.
Chelsea started the weekend in third due to goal difference, but equal on points with Manchester United and Arsenal. Although our ambitions are slightly different, both teams were desperate to add to their points tally.Β
Carla Ward opted for the same starting XI again, with Hannah Hampton the most notable absentee. The goalkeeper was deemed fit earlier in the week, but some vague comments from the manager confirmed that she had been left out again. Despite the narrow defeats of recent weeks, Ward is clearly confident in her gameplan and is persevering with the same team.
Chelsea started on the front foot, with several dangerous attacks to open the game. Anna Leat was tested early on and was supported by her defenders making several key blocks. Guro Reiten hit a powerful shot from the edge of the box after winning the ball back on the left wing, but Leat reacted quickly to make the save.
Villa found it difficult to manage the threat from the left, and it was Reiten again who crossed the ball into the path of Lauren James. James picked up the ball just outside the box and sidestepped Rachel Corsie to get her shot away into the bottom right-hand corner.Β
At 1-0 down, Villa were not deterred. If anything, Villaβs threat was heightened after conceding and that is the difference this season. Carla Ward is ensuring that the side are never out of the game and we saw that in the heroic opening day comeback against Manchester City. Anna Patten, Kenza Dali, and Rachel Daly all made attempts on goal. Pattenβs shot was saved and the two attackers were off target, but the momentum had shifted.
The game was evenly matched with both sides creating chances, but it was Aston Villa that struck next. The attack started with Alisha Lehmann on the right-wing, who left the ball for fullback Sarah Mayling to pick up on the overlap. Mayling crossed the ball in to Rachel Daly, who was goal side of Millie Bright to redirect the ball into the bottom left corner. Thanks to Dalyβs equaliser, the teams went into the break level.
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Chelsea put themselves back in front just a few minutes into the second half. The ball was won back in their own half and record signing Penille Harder drove through the midfield before handing over to Lauren James on the right wing. James got her second of the afternoon with a powerful shot into the roof of the net from a difficult angle, not allowing Leat the chance to save.
Ward introduced Tash Harding to the game at 2-1 down, in the hope that she could continue her goalscoring form. Harding scored the opening goal against Everton midweek and also converted her penalty. Harding was quick to get involved and set up Dali for a shot that was saved from reaching the bottom left corner of the goal.
The three points were sealed for Chelsea when Sam Kerr beat Anna Patten to a ball in from Lauren James. Patten made it difficult for Kerr and Anna Leat made herself big in goal, but Kerr managed to get enough lift on the ball that her close-range shot hit the back of the net.Β
The match ended 3-1 to Chelsea, but Aston Villa put in a good performance against the reigning champions and scored a first WSL goal in this fixture. This defeat makes three successive losses in the league, which is difficult to take after winning the opening two matches. Villa will look to get back on track in the next game against newly promoted Liverpool.
AUTHOR | GEORGIA HOMER
Authorβs UTV PODCAST archiveΒ Georgia Homer
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