Manchester City suffered an opening day defeat as they lost out to champions Chelsea on the opening day of the WSL season. Goals from Aggie Beever-Jones and Maika Hamano gave the hosts the win, while an own goal by Niamh Charles gave City some hope of snatching a point.
It was a new look City side with new boss Andree Jeglertz giving debuts to Jade Rose and Sydney Lohmann, while Iman Beney came on as a second-half substitute. Chelsea were able to add Australian star Sam Kerr to their subs bench for
the first time in almost two years, and gave a debut to new signing Ellie Carpenter.
The Blues had high hopes going into the new season, with Jeglertz boldly stating that City were ready for the challenge of the new season.
And for 30 minutes, City matched the champions with both sides having opportunities to take the lead. Bunny Shaw forced England keeper Hannah Hampton into a couple of good saves, while Ayaka Yamashita pulled of a great reaction save to deny Sandy Baltimore the opener after she created some space for herself in the City area.
But the home side took the lead in the 31st minute, and it was the debutant Carpenter who was the architect. The new signing outpaced Alex Greenwood and provided an inch-perfect cross for Beever-Jones to clip home.
It was tough on City, but also forms part of the usual story when playing at Chelsea, although City almost levelled but Shaw was denied again by Hampton. And City edged closer to goal when the Jamaican was fouled just outside the area giving the Blues a chance from the free-kick.
Greenwood curled the shot around the wall, only to see the ball crash into the bar and Chelsea cleared with no City player able to get on the end of the rebound, and Chelsea went in 1-0 up at the break.
In recent years, the Blues would sit back, but on Friday night, there were signs that City were becoming more aggressive and attack-minded in their play. Yui Hasegawa almost celebrated her new contract with a goal, but saw her ferocious shot saved by Hampton.
City were looking the most likely to get the next goal and Hasegawa almost levelled again, but saw her clever flick roll agonisingly wide after good build-up play between Shaw and Lauren Hemp.
But, it was City’s defending that was once again the cause of their downfall when Hamano scored the host’s second goal. Greenwood was again caught out on the City left, Baltimore drew in the last defender, leaving space for an unmarked and unchallenged Hamano to rifle home the second.
City still ploughed on and when Hemp won a free-kick on the right, it was a chance for the Blues to create a bit of chaos in the Chelsea box. And that’s just what happened in the 78th minute when Greenwood’s ball in was diverted into her own goal by Charles to give City hope of a point. Charles was unchallenged but her attempt to put the ball out of play beat her own keeper instead.
City charged forward and Shaw fired narrowly over the bar as the Blues pushed for an equaliser that ultimately would never arrive. Instead, the match ended with Greenwood injured and Lily Murphy being taken off in the final seconds on a stretcher.
It was a difficult end to the match but, following this display, City can look forward to a interesting first season under the new boss.
Final Score: Chelsea Women 2-1 Manchester City Women
