WSL champions Chelsea took on Manchester City at a sold-out Kingsmeadow hoping to recover from their less-than-ideal start to the season.
Emma Hayes' Blues clinched the title at the death last season, but were beaten by Liverpool in their season opener. Opponents City also got off to a losing start, with Aston Villa getting the better of Gareth Taylor's team in a seven-goal thriller, and the visitors were looking to get off the mark before playing in front of their home fans for the first time in October.
England star Fran Kirby put the home side in front after an even first half, with Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger called into action as much as opposite number Ellie Roebuck, and Maren Mjelde made the points safe from the penalty spot. Here, Mirror Football looks at the main talking points from a hard-fought win for the hosts.
Reiten running the show
While plenty of eyes were on the two sides' English contingent in the first half, but Guro Reiten was far and away the most dangerous player in the first period. Chelsea's Norwegian international got plenty of change out of City right-back Kerstin Casparij, but had to wait until just before the break to take full advantage.
Ironically, Reiten's success came when she stopped hugging the touchline and got in behind after good work from Jessie Fleming. While it would have been easy to snatch at a shot, the 28-year-old kept her eyes open and laid the ball across to Fran Kirby, taking goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck out of the equation and allowing the England star to tuck home.
City were able to keep the number 11 a little quieter in the second half, but she still looked dangerous when given time on the ball. With Reiten on the left and Lauren James on the opposite flank, Chelsea won't be short of a threat from out wide.
Kerr surprisingly hesitant
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Sam Kerr was Chelsea's and the WSL's leading goalscorer last season, with her final-day double helping seal the title. She failed to find the target at Liverpool last weekend, though, and wasn't her usual clinical self in the early reckoning.
The 29-year-old had a chance inside the first 20 seconds, stretching as she sent a tame effort wide, and this might have impacted her confidence 10 minutes or so later when she raced onto a short backpass from City's Steph Houghton but opted to pass rather than shoot with only Roebuck to beat.
Kerr's link-up play remained solid, not least when a well-timed lay-off freed Lauren James to burst down the right and get a shot off. Her harrying and pressing was exactly what we've come to expect as well, but the cutting edge wasn't there.
Kelly taking responsibility
England's Euros winners were well-represented at Kingsmeadow, with a warm reception for all. Chloe Kelly was coming off her winner against Germany in the final, and approached the game like a player comfortable to be the focal point.
As City looked to gain a foothold in the game, there were a few rushed efforts from their forwards. Kelly, however, showed more calm and deliberate play to create space, though she was unable to cause too many problems for Ann-Katrin Berger in the Chelsea net.
Ultimately, though, she was often forced to feed off scraps as a composed Chelsea back-line did its job. A frustrating afternoon, then, but one which suggests Kelly will cause problems for most teams this term.
Penalty drama
After withstanding some early pressure, City began to gain a foothold during the first half, with Bunny Shaw worrying the home back-line. And that's what led to the first contentious moment of the game, with the Jamaican going to ground under a challenge from Kadeisha Buchanan.
Chelsea's defender didn't appear to get a touch on the ball, but there were question marks over whether there was enough contact to warrant a penalty. Or, indeed, whether that contact was inside the box.
The referee did have cause to point to the spot in the second half, though, with City complaints falling on deaf ears after Leila Ouahabi blocked a Sophie Ingle shot with her arm. Mjelde made no mistake from the spot, and that moment could leave the away fans reflecting even more on their first-half appeal.
A decade for Hayes
Before kick-off, a number of Chelsea players and staff were honoured in an on-pitch presentation. Among them was manager Emma Hayes, who is celebrating 10 years at the helm, and the transformation in that decade has been plain to see.
When Hayes took over in 2012, the London side were also-rans, but that's not something you can level at them these days. Last season's title was Chelsea's third in a row, and they've also reached the Champions League final under the 45-year-old.
Arsenal have set the early running in this season's WSL, continuing their impressive form at both ends of the pitch after finishing last season strongly. Still, with Hayes in charge of this group of players, a four-peat can't be ruled out.
