Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the Women’s Super League (WSL) standings with a narrow, hard-fought 1-0 triumph at home to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Guro Reiten scored the only goal of the game as she converted a first half penalty. Mayra Ramirez was brought down by United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce that resulted in the spot-kick.
Marc Skinner’s side produced just one attempt on target and hit the cross bar with one of their only two other shots. That was dwarfed by Chelsea’s 13 efforts, six of which hit the target.
Chelsea are now five points clear at the top ahead of Manchester City with everyone now on eight games played. Brighton complete the top three, with Arsenal and United not too far behind.
*Ratings provided by Fotmob*
GK: Hannah Hampton – 7.5/10 – Called into action early doors after some loose possession from the hosts. Made a strong save early in the second half after a long range effort from Geyse was almost deflected into the top corner.
RB: Lucy Bronze – 7.9/10 – Gave the ball away cheaply in the opening few minutes that led to a United chance but Hampton was there to claim a cross into the box.
CB: Nathalie Bjorn – 8.0/10 – First choice alongside Bright following Buchanan’s injury and has confidently stepped up to the task. Solid display and helped restrict United to very few chances.
CB: Millie Bright (c) – 7.6/10 – Confident in possession to take the ball into midfield and move Chelsea further up the pitch. Started a move that resulted in an effort just off target from Kaneryd. Made a crucial sliding challenge to stop Geyse before the break.
LB: Sandy Baltimore – 7.6/10 – Some strong combinations with Reiten down the left that caused United plenty of problems. One resulted in a headed clearance off the line.
CM: Erin Cuthbert – 7.5/10 – Skipped past numerous United players on the hour mark with some clever footwork and unleashed a solid attempt aimed at the far corner, but it just evaded the goal and an onrushing Beever-Jones.
CM: Sjoeke Nusken – 7.2/10 – Some fantastic passing in the first half, one to pick out the run of Baltimore down the left that led to a good opportunity for Chelsea. Unleashed a strong strike after 12 minutes but narrowly missed the target.
RM: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – 7.2/10 – A couple of early chances fell to the Swede, but her teammates either got in the way or she couldn’t quite hit the target. A huge attacking threat for Chelsea but things didn’t quite come off in front of goal.
AM: Maika Hamano – 6.3/10 – Had an early attempt on goal saved and played a clever pass through to Ramirez as the Colombia international won the penalty. Subbed early in the second half.
LM: Guro Reiten – 7.9/10 – Inch-perfect penalty to give Chelsea a deserved lead in the first half. Involved in plenty of chances, but was taken off
ST: Mayra Ramirez – 6.5/10 – Got in the way of a Kaneryd shot early doors, but won the penalty in the first half as she was brought down by Tullis-Joyce. Forced a decent save from the United goalkeeper in the second half with an attempt from a tight angle.
Substitutes
SUB: Catarina Macario (56′ for Hamano) – 6.2/10
SUB: Aggie Beever-Jones (56′ for Reiten) – 6.2/10
Unused subs: Zecira Musovic (GK), Ashley Lawrence, Eve Perisset, Wieke Kaptein, Maelys Mpome, Oriane Jean-Francois, Alejandra Bernabe
Manager
Sonia Bompastor – 8/10 – Hard to fault a manager with a 100% record across all competitions this season. Dealt with injury setbacks, largely due to the outstanding squad at her disposal. Chelsea weren’t at their free scoring best, but that is never guaranteed against strong defence. A win is a win.
GK: Phallon Tullis-Joyce – 7.2/10 – Made some early saves as Chelsea dominated but conceded the penalty as she brought down Ramirez and was booked as a result. Went the right way for Reiten’s penalty but couldn’t get a touch. Some sloppy play with Turner in the second half which resulted in other huge chance for Chelsea.
RB: Jayde Riviere – 6.9/10 – Picked up some good positions and attempted some crosses into the box, but Hampton was always alive and alert to claim. Tough afternoon up against Reiten and then Beever-Jones in the second half.
CB: Maya Le Tissier (c) – 7.2/10 – Dragged out of position by Ramirez and then lost the striker as she charged into the box to win the penalty. A crucial block to deny Kaneryd in the second half after sloppy play from her teammates.
CB: Millie Turner – 6.4/10 – A headed clearance off the line at the end of the first half to deny Chelsea an almost certain second goal. Sloppy in possession at times, especially one moment in the second half when she was beaten to a Tullis-Joyce pass by Kaneryd and United nearly conceded a second.
LB: Gabby George – 7.5/10 – Caught too high up the pitch late in the second half as Kaneryd picked up space down the right flank and nearly set up Ramirez for a Chelsea second, United saved only by the fact the effort was straight at Tullis-Joyce. But brings balance and tried to progress the ball.
CM: Simi Awujo – 7.1/10 – Lost the fightin midfield that resulted in Chelsea getting forward and winning a penalty. Very interesting midfield battle with Cuthbert throughout the game.
CM: Dominique Janssen – 6.8/10 – Conceded a few needless fouls and was booked for a challenge on Erin Cuthbert late in the game. Chelsea were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position but the danger was eventually cleared by United.
RM: Celin Bizet – 6.0/10 – Touch let her down at times as she let the ball run away from her after a clever pass from Geyse in the second half, and Bronze was able to intercept. Subbed on 60.
AM: Grace Clinton – 6.3/10 – Received a needless booking at the end of the first half for kicking the ball away. Struggled to influence the game as she so often has this season due to Chelsea’s dominance. Looked tired.
LM: Geyse – 6.3/10 – Almost had an attempt from range deflected in early in the second half but Hampton was there to make the save. At the heart of United’s attacking play but the visitors couldn’t make their efforts count.
ST: Rachel Williams – 5.7/10 – Clattered into Hampton in the first half in an attempt to win the ball but was booked for her efforts, potentially for dissent. Subbed on 60.
Substitutes
SUB: Melvine Malard (61′ for Williams) – 6.3/10
SUB: Leah Galton (61′ for Bizet) – 6.3/10
SUB: Hayley Ladd (89′ for Awujo) – N/A
SUB: Anna Sandberg (90+3′ for George) – N/A
Unused subs: Safia Middleton-Patel (GK), Hinata Miyazawa, Emma Watson, Jess Simpson.
Manager
Marc Skinner – 5/10 – A narrow defeat is an improvement on the 6-0 hammering at the end of last season. Defensively, his side looked better, but going forward was another story. Struggled to find the middle ground between containing Chelsea and forging attacks of their own.
