Sonia Bompastor’s starting lineup of choice immediately raised some eyebrows. Having only Aggie Beever-Jones as a no.9 to rely, the Chelsea Women head coach chose Lauren James to slot in AGB’s usual spot instead.
Even with this tactical approach the Blues were the better team against hosts, Manchester United, which is already custom. We still felt the lack of a proper centre-forward in the box with Chelsea crosses finding no one to test goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, and several passes in the final
third strung along with nobody to make a proper shot.
It was a matter of patience, after all. In one of those build-up plays Wieke Kaptein assisted Sjoeke Nüsken, the midfielder positioned as a centre-forward to poach the ball in. 1-0 to the good girls.
The intense pressing that got us in a position to score the first goal continued. United were not having a good time leaving their own half and Chelsea kept recovering the ball in good positions to score. From one of those occasions the ball fell to Lucy Bronze, who in turn assisted Keira Walsh for our second goal of the day.
Chelsea could have been quite tired from all that pressing on United in the second half. They weren’t. The Blues continued to be the superior team on the pitch and got two more goals, from Lauren James and Ellie Carpenter.
By the time we got the fourth goal our foot was no longer so deep in the gas pedal. But for good measure we got a fifth right before the final whistle, via Lucy Bronze.
Carefree!
- Lauren James, false-nine.
- That was a very good first half from us. Once again, can we keep this up in the second part of the game?
- … turns out, we can.
- Next up: Birmingham at Stamford Bridge for the Women’s Super League.
- KTBFFH!
