Very few teams in the Women’s Super League can claim themselves as a thorn on Chelsea Women’s side. Everton is one of these few.
They were one of three teams in England and abroad able to beat Chelsea last season, with only Manchester City and Arsenal in this extremely select list. Although that 1-0 loss almost a year ago involved a lot of luck, the Toffees also did a good job holding the fort and throwing bodies at our shots at goal to keep a one-goal lead for more than 80 minutes of play.
At Stamford
Bridge their plan didn’t really change. The Blues would take the lion’s share of possession and attacking chances while Everton would sit tight and hope for the best in a long ball or two. Set pieces were always welcomed after an entire week of drilling those in training.
First things first, they’d need to find the opening goal. The hosts had a different plan and got the opener instead with a Sandy Baltimore header.
Given Everton’s impressive defensive record this season, which clearly comes at the cost of not having too much attacking potency, a one-goal lead seemed more than fine for us. Lucy Bronze would dash that with a very unfortunate own goal, only a few minutes after Baltimore’s score.
And it was settled, at least on Everton’s side, that they would carry that single point all the way back to the Merseyside. Chelsea huffed and puffed and yet they couldn’t bring goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan and co. down a peg.
That means Manchester City back on top of the Women’s Super League on points. Once again thanks to Everton, their own abilities, and Chelsea’s lack of.
- Manaka Matsukubo starts in attack.
- A “clearance” into the back of the net.
- Rather easy holding Chelsea off in the second half.
- Next up: BK Häcken away in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
- KTBFFH.
