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On a poignant afternoon at Kingsmeadow, Chelsea maintained their unblemished record in the 2025/26 Women’s Super League season with a narrow 1-0 victory over Leicester City. The match, began with a minute’s silence impeccably observed by players, staff, and fans in tribute to former Chelsea manager Matt Beard, who tragically passed away at the age of 47 the day before. Aggie Beever-Jones’ early strike proved decisive in a contest where the Blues, despite dominating possession, had to grind out the result against a resilient Leicester side. This win marks Chelsea’s third consecutive victory, underscoring their title credentials under manager Sonia Bompastor, though the performance highlighted areas for improvement in breaking down stubborn defenses.
Match Statistics
| Category | Chelsea | Leicester |
|---|---|---|
| Ball Possession | 58% | 42% |
| Big Chances | 2 | 0 |
| Big Chances Scored | 1 | 0 |
| Big Chances Missed | 1 | 0 |
| Total Shots | 10 | 9 |
| Shots on Target | 8 | 2 |
| Shots Off Target | 1 | 5 |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 2 | 7 |
| Big Saves | 1 | 3 |
| Corner Kicks | 3 | 1 |
| Fouls | 11 | 10 |
| Passes | 540 | 370 |
| Accurate Passes | 441 | 293 |
| Total Tackles | 18 | 29 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 3 |
Match Flow & Key Moments
- Pre-kick-off: A minute’s silence was held in memory of Matt Beard, with the stadium united in respect for the former Chelsea boss.
- 7th minute: Aggie Beever-Jones wriggled free in the box and lifted the ball over Janina Leitzig to give Chelsea the lead, capitalizing on a quick transition.
- 47th minute: Fans paid further tribute to Beard with applause and chants, momentarily lifting the atmosphere amid a tense half.
- Stoppage time: Leicester’s Rosella Ayane struck the crossbar, with Emily van Egmond skewing the rebound over a heart-in-mouth moment for Chelsea as they clung on for the win.
Chelsea’s approach under Bompastor emphasized possession and width, but the Blues struggled to convert dominance into clear-cut opportunities, averaging fewer goals than in previous thrashings of Leicester. Lazy passing in the first half led to turnovers, isolating Beever-Jones up top and allowing Leicester’s pressing to disrupt the rhythm. Leitzig’s heroics in goal, including key saves from Cuthbert and Walsh, highlighted Leicester’s compact defending, which limited Chelsea’s big chances to just two. Substitutions like Kerr and Thompson added energy but failed to unlock the door, suggesting Chelsea need sharper execution against deep blocks. Leicester, meanwhile, showed tactical discipline, winning more tackles and recoveries, but their lack of cutting edge in attack despite territorial gains ultimately cost them. It was an unconvincing performance from the champions, grinding out results rather than dominating, but one that keeps their title defense on track
Player of the Match: Janina Leitzig was the standout performer, earning Player of the Match for her exceptional display in goal for Leicester. Her seven saves, including three big stops against Cuthbert, Macario, and Walsh, kept the Foxes in the game until the final whistle, nearly earning them a point.
Lineups
Chelsea (3-4-2-1): H. Hampton (GK); N. Björn, M. Bright (c), V. Buurman; E. Carpenter, E. Cuthbert, K. Walsh, S. Baltimore; W. H. M. Kaptein, C. Macario; A. Beever-Jones.
Leicester (3-4-1-2): J. Leitzig (GK); J. Cayman (c), C. Boureille, J. Thibaud; H. Payne, S. Tierney, O. McLoughlin, A. Ale; E. V. Egmond; H. Cain, H. Eiríksdóttir.
Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Leicester extends their perfect WSL start, but the hard-fought nature of the victory signals that rivals may exploit any lapses in focus. With tributes to Matt Beard resonating throughout, the Blues demonstrated resilience to claim three points, setting them up well for upcoming tests. Leicester, though defeated, can take heart from their defensive display and near-miss late on, pointing to potential progress this season.
