Just a week after they met in the FA Cup semi-final second-placed Chelsea women clashed with seventh-placed Manchester City in the Women’s Super League.
Despite their less than stellar position in the league, Manchester City came into this as one of the best teams in the WSL and represented one of the biggest threats to Chelsea’s winning run. Surprisingly, this match ended up a 4-0 drubbing in favour of Chelsea who moved to within one point of league leaders Arsenal with the win. It was an unfortunate early mistake from Manchester City that turned this match in Chelsea’s favour.
Chelsea Women Make Early Mistake Count in 4-0 Win
Early Error Proves Costly
Chelsea took the lead within two minutes through Jessie Fleming who pounced on a defensive mistake and put the ball past the goalkeeper to fire her side into the lead. This made life easier for Emma Hayes’ side who had the comfort of a one-goal lead, despite City playing very well throughout the half.
After suckering City into piling bodies forward, Chelsea caught them on the counter in added time with Sam Kerr finishing off the move in typical fashion to double the lead.
Chelsea Put Things to Bed
The first half of the game was an even showing with Manchester City looking like a competent threat to the Blues backline throughout, if not for the early mistake City may have even taken the lead at some point in the half. Chelsea came out for the second half looking like a different team and within ten minutes of the restart had doubled their lead to 4-0.
The merciless ease at which Chelsea tore through Manchester City after the break was something to behold, and further showcases the gap between them and their contemporaries. From there the game petered out with Manchester City mounting some good attacks in search of a consolation goal while Chelsea were happy to see the game out.
If not for the early mistake this could have been a very different game. Instead, the reigning WSL champions beat one of their main rivals to move a single point behind league leaders Arsenal who needed a late equaliser to salvage a point against Tottenham.
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