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Chelsea Women bounced back from their mid-week setback with a dominant 3-1 win over Aston Villa Women at Villa Park. Despite a resilient first-half performance from the hosts, Chelsea’s superior quality and composure saw them secure all three points in a thrilling encounter. Aggie Beever-Jones, Sam Kerr, and an unfortunate own goal from Missy Kearns proved to be the difference as the Blues extended their unbeaten run in the WSL.
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Aston Villa Women | Chelsea Women |
|---|---|---|
| Ball Possession | 45% | 55% |
| Total Shots | 15 | 18 |
| Shots on Target | 4 | 6 |
| Big Chances | 3 | 6 |
| Big Chances Missed | 3 | 6 |
| Passes | 358 | 435 |
| Fouls Committed | 8 | 7 |
| Corners | 2 | 9 |
| Tackles | 18 | 17 |
| Yellow Cards | 0 | 2 |
| Duels Won | 39 | 46 |
Match Flow & Key Moments
- 22′: Aggie Beever-Jones scores with a header from close range to give Chelsea the lead.
- 34′: Ebony Salmon equalizes for Villa with a powerful shot from distance.
- 55′: Own goal by Missy Kearns gifts Chelsea a 2-1 lead.
- 93′: Sam Kerr finishes from close range to secure Chelsea’s 3-1 victory.
The game began with both sides feeling each other out, but it was Chelsea who drew first blood in the 22nd minute. Aggie Beever-Jones powered home a header from a pinpoint cross, putting the visitors 1-0 up. Villa responded well, and in the 34th minute, Ebony Salmon leveled the scores with a stunning strike from outside the box, assisted by Chasity Grant. The hosts were buoyed by the equalizer but were unable to take control of the match. However, disaster struck for Villa just after halftime. In the 55th minute, an own goal from Missy Kearns off a Chelsea corner put the Blues back in the lead at 2-1. The game became more scrappy as Villa pushed forward, but Chelsea’s experience saw them through, and in the 93rd minute, Sam Kerr sealed the win, pouncing on a loose ball from a Chelsea corner to score Chelsea’s third and final goal.
Villa started with a defensive 3-4-1-2 formation, aiming to stay compact and frustrate Chelsea’s attacking play. While they did manage to equalize and keep the game tight for long periods, their lack of clinical edge in front of goal and an unfortunate own goal ultimately cost them.
Chelsea looked the more dangerous side throughout, dominating possession (55%) and creating several key chances. Their ability to stretch Villa’s defense, especially with the pace and creativity of Alyssa Thompson who made her debut for Chelsea today and Erin Cuthbert, proved decisive. Chelsea’s pressing game forced Villa into errors, and their set-piece delivery was once again a key factor, with the own goal and Kerr’s strike coming from corners.
Player of the Match: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea) With a series of crucial saves and solid command in goal, Hampton played a key role in Chelsea’s victory. She made 3 saves, one of which was a particularly important stop against Anna Patten’s header late in the game, keeping Chelsea’s lead intact.
Lineups
Aston Villa (3-4-1-2)
GK: Ellie Roebuck
Anna Patten, Océane Deslandes, Chasity Grant, Noëlle Maritz, Missy Kearns, Jill Baijings, Lynn Wilms, Kirsty Hanson, Ebony Salmon, Rachel Daly (c)
Chelsea (4-3-3)
GK: Hannah Hampton
Ellie Carpenter, Millie Bright (c), Nathalie Björn, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Keira Walsh, Aggie Beever-Jones, Guro Reiten, Wieke Kaptein, Niamh Charles, Catarina Macário
Chelsea’s 3-1 victory at Villa Park was a testament to their resilience and depth, despite some early struggles. Aggie Beever-Jones’s early header, a fluke own goal from Missy Kearns, and a composed finish from Sam Kerr who made her returned after almost 20 months ensured that the Blues maintained their unbeaten start to the season. For Villa, the defeat was tough, but they will take positives from their battling performance, especially Ebony Salmon’s stunning equalizer. For Chelsea, the win keeps them firmly in the title hunt, while Villa will need to regroup ahead of their next outing as they search for more consistency.
