Chelsea took management of the Girls’s Tremendous League title race with a slender 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday evening.
Emma Hayes’ aspect wanted a win to get forward of Manchester Metropolis on the prime the desk on aim distinction. The consequence now takes the race, that the Chelsea had beforehand declared “carried out”, to the ultimate day when they may tackle Manchester United at Outdated Trafford. Metropolis are away to Aston Villa.
Simply two objectives separate the highest two on aim distinction and it might come right down to that if each groups win their respective remaining fixture.
As anticipated, Chelsea dominated possession and created a majority of the alternatives within the first half. The primary main alternative got here simply shy of the 15-minute mark as Niamh Charles made a lung-busting run down the left and located Maika Hamano along with her cross, however the Japan worldwide couldn’t put her diving header on course.
The primary actual probability for Spurs got here a couple of minutes later as Jess Naz picked the ball up in a superb space and had the chance to play the go to Celin Bizet in area. Nevertheless, too many touches meant the passing lane was minimize off and he or she took the shot on as an alternative, firing it comfortably as Zecira Musovic.
Hamano made up for her earlier miss earlier than half-time as she broke the impasse. Guro Reiten discovered area down the left and, this time, Hamano completed the cross with ease.
Spurs had a flurry of possibilities moments earlier than the whistle, however Grace Clinton’s effort missed the goal after which there was no one within the field to fulfill a harmful cross from Naz. Very like Sunday’s FA Cup remaining in opposition to Manchester United, it was the ultimate ball that was letting Spurs down.
Robert Vilahamn’s aspect appeared the extra threatening within the early exchanges after the break. Defenders Luana Buhler and Ashleigh Neville each had alternatives however couldn’t discover the web.
Chelsea regained a foothold because the second-half wore on and Hayes’ substitutes definitely made a distinction and allowed them to see out the consequence. Regardless of a late onslaught from Spurs, the present champions nearly held on for the win.
GK: Barbora Votikova – 6/10 – Parried just a few possibilities within the first half and was lucky Chelsea couldn’t capitalise.
RB: Ashleigh Neville – 6/10 – A tough evening up in opposition to Reiten and was overwhelmed by the winger on a handful of events. Swapped flanks when Charlotte Grant got here on for Nilden and had extra pleasure as she was in a position to affect the sport extra.
CB: Amy James-Turner – 510 – Made a vital goal-saving block at 0-0 after Reiten ran off the shoulder of Neville to get a shot away. Headed effort within the second half when Spurs have been on prime.
CB: Luana Buhler – 6/10 – Might’ve scored an equaliser early within the second half if not for a last-ditch clearance off the road. Outmuscled by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Chelsea have been nearly in, however Spurs have been nearly in a position to cope with the hazard.
LB: Amanda Nilden – 5/10 – Had a troublesome first half coping with Hamano, who was inflicting all kinds of issues. Was stretchered off earlier than half-time with what appeared like an ankle damage.
CM: Grace Clinton – 6/10 – Misplaced possession a few occasions in battles with Cuthbert. Two half-chances earlier than the break however couldn’t punish Chelsea with both try.
CM: Eveliina Summanen – 5/10 – Some determined final ditch, however essential, defending early within the second half to maintain Spurs in it. Struggled to get an actual maintain on midfield and had a quiet evening.
CM: Drew Spence – 6/10 – A greater grip of the sport in midfield within the second half after Chelsea dominated the primary. Pressured off with an damage late on, nevertheless, which got here as a blow for Spurs as she was on the coronary heart of all the things they did effectively.
RW: Jess Naz – 6/10 – Caught offside a handful of occasions within the early exchanges. Took a shot on from distance when a greater go was on.
ST: Bethany England – 5/10 – Almost assisted Beever-Jones with a weird try at a clearance. Lucky to not be punished. In any other case, she struggled to essentially make an affect.
LW: Celin Bizet – 6/10 – Some stunning footwork to beat each Charles and Cuthbert down the appropriate however slipped as she put the cross in and it was cleared by Vivid.
Substitutes
SUB: Charlotte Grant (47′ for Amanda Nilden) – 6/10 – Some very important defending within the second half as Cuthbert drove into the field. Spurs appeared extra in management when she was on the pitch, significantly within the early phases of the second half.
SUB: Martha Thomas (65′ for Jess Naz ) – 5/10
SUB: Matilda Vinberg (65′ for Celin Bizet) – 5/10
SUB: Equipment Graham (81′ for Drew Spence) – 5/10
Subs not used: Ramona Petzelberger, Equipment Graham, Olga Ahtinen, Rosella Ayane, Eleanor Heeps, Wang Shuang
Supervisor
Robert Vilahamn – 6/10 – His aspect struggled within the first half however did effectively to not let the sport get away from them. That they had some implausible possibilities however as soon as once more their ending and remaining ball allow them to down on the evening.
GK: Zecira Musovic – 6/10 – Was lucky a sloppy go early within the second half wasn’t punished. Dependable when referred to as into motion, particularly when Spurs have been on prime within the second half.
RB: Ashley Lawrence – 7/10 – Comfy in possession and stored issues ticking. Dealt effectively within the first half with Spurs’ risk first half however struggled a bit within the second. Changed by the skilled Jess Carter with 20 minutes left to play.
CB: Millie Vivid – 7/10 – A vital clearance after Bizet beat boh Charles and Cuthbert to get a cross in through the second half. Dealt effectively sufficient with all the things Spurs threw at them.
CB: Nathalie Bjorn – 7/10 – Comfy first half however struggled a bit extra in opposition to Naz within the early phases of the second. Learn the sport a lot better when the Spurs ahead went off.
LB: Niamh Charles – 8/10 – Discovered acres of area within the first half and was closely concerned. Was extra on the again foot within the second 45 as Spurs appeared extra threatening however her expertise confirmed as they stored Spurs at arms size.
RM: Maika Hamano – 8/10 – Missed an enormous probability early within the first half as she was picked out by Charles. Couldn’t preserve the header down and it missed the goal. Made up for it earlier than the break with the primary aim of the sport and was a consistently concerned for Chelsea.
CM: Melanie Leupolz – 7/10 – On the coronary heart of all the things Chelsea did, alongside Cuthbert in midfield. Fouled relentlessly however stored going. Gained the ball again in harmful areas and set her aspect on the assault.
CM: Erin Cuthbert – 7/10 – In full management first half and was first to all the things. Affect dwindled within the first quarter-hour of the second half however grew once more when Chelsea regained momentum.
LM: Guro Reiten – 7/10 – Induced Neville a whole lot of issues down the left early on and received the help for the opener. Bought the help for Hamano’s aim and was a relentless risk earlier than she was substituted late on.
ST: Aggie Beever-Jones – 7/10 – An audacious flick very almost prolonged the workforce’s lead within the second half but it surely rolled marginally extensive of the far put up. Had loads of possibilities however couldn’t end them on the evening.
ST: Catarina Macario – 7/10 – Dropped deep to select the ball up and Spurs couldn’t get a grip on her motion, which resulted within the opening aim. Her motion requested loads of questions of Spurs earlier than she got here off.
Substitutes
SUB: Sjoeke Nusken (70′ for Catarina Macario) – 6/10
SUB: Jess Carter (70′ for Ashley Lawrence) – 7/10
SUB: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (70′ for Maika Hamano) – 7/10
SUB: Lauren James (79′ for Aggie Beever-Jones) – 6/10
SUB: Fran Kirby (79′ for Guro Reiten) – 6/10
Subs not used: Sophie Ingle, Maren Mjelde, Hannah Hampton, Kadeisha Buchanan
Supervisor
Emma Hayes – 7/10 – Did sufficient to get her aspect over the road. Her second-half substitutes made the distinction as Spurs have been massively on prime and appeared the likelier to attain.
Participant of the match: Maika Hamano (Chelsea)
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