Chelsea needed to come from behind towards West Ham to keep away from extra WSL disappointment this season, extending their lengthy unbeaten report at Kingsmeadow to 27 video games within the course of.
The reigning champions had been shocked by Liverpool on the de facto opening weekend of the brand new marketing campaign earlier this month, earlier than stepping into their stride this previous weekend towards a Manchester Metropolis in a serious transition interval.
However it threatened to be one other evening to neglect on Wednesday when Dagny Brynjarsdottir head West Ham into the lead inside three minutes. The benefit at which the unmarked Icelandic star met the ball and guided it into the online can have been a serious fear for Emma Hayes.
Chelsea did bounce again fairly shortly to create loads of possibilities. When Sam Kerr hit each posts within the first half it regarded prefer it may have been one in every of these nights. West Ham had been additionally defending resiliently and new England call-up Lucy Parker was spectacular.
It was Chelsea’s persistence than their superior high quality that bought them again into it, whereas there was a component of controversy concerning the go-ahead purpose.
Fran Kirby netted the purpose that levelled issues up shortly earlier than half-time. West Ham didn’t correctly clear the hazard, with the ball recycled by Guro Reiten from out huge. Kirby then managed to dig it out from below her toes into the far nook.
West Ham once more didn’t correctly clear when Sam Kerr put Chelsea forward. Reiten was once more concerned in conserving issues alive, with Magdalena Eriksson closing down the tried clearance, though replays confirmed Kerr was in an offside place because the ball fell to her for a tap-in.
With Chelsea forward, their solely regarded like one winner and Millie Vivid confirmed herself a command presence to move the Blues additional into the lead. Nonetheless, they missed the prospect to increase their lead extra when Lauren James was denied from the penalty spot by a wise save from Mackenzie Arnold, who feinted to dive a technique earlier than flying throughout her line in the wrong way.
The victory places Chelsea fourth within the WSL desk degree on factors with Arsenal, Manchester United and Aston Villa, however having performed a sport extra.
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