Thank you for joining me for this fixture which sees Chelsea claim top of the Women’s Super League again. Manchester City are hot on their tails with the only thing separating the two clubs being goal difference. Aston Villa wanted to challenge Chelsea this evening but a red card to keeper Anna Leat in the fourth minute made the task that much harder. Sophia Poor played well but Chelsea proved too much for the 10-player side. To catch up on the action have a read of the report below. We will be back with women’s football action with Chelsea’s Women’s Champions League semi-final against Barcelona on Saturday. Until then, have a good week.
Buchanan and Hamano both scored their first goals for Chelsea in the 3-0 win:
That first goal feeling. 🥰 pic.twitter.com/m4sPJUyilf
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) April 17, 2024
I have just found out James’ exclusion was down to a foot injury. It would be a huge blow for Chelsea is she is ruled out of this weekend’s clash with Barcelona. The Blues are already without stars like Sam Kerr, Millie Bright and Mia Fishel.
Some stats for you to glance over:
Catarina Macario's first start in 686 days:
— Ameé Ruszkai (@ameeruszkai) April 17, 2024
49 touches
24/29 passes completed
17/21 in final third
5 chances created (!)
3 times possession won
1/1 tackles won
One or two assists, depends on how you see it 😅
Hayes was also asked if Lauren James will be available for their Barcelona match and she said: “I don’t know we will have to see when the players come back in on Friday.” So maybe James’ exclusion tonight seems to be more than just a rest.
Updated
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes told Sky: “The state of the game made it different but the players showed up until the end.
“I hate that rule, I know it serves as an advantage to us. It is one of these rules in football I don’t like, a goalkeeper being sent off like that… I thought they did well to stay in the game as long as they did.
“We have to focus on what we can control. We have three points, we broke a losing streak and that is what is important.”
So what is next for both clubs? Aston Villa won’t play now until their WSL match against West Ham on 28 April, a blessing in disguise potentially if keeper Poor is injured after that calf issue. Chelsea next have Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League semi-final, the first leg is taking place on Saturday.
The anger comment there is really interesting, manager Emma Hayes has been composed in the build-up to today’s game and hasn’t really shown the feeling in the camp. They managed to use that emotion well today to get those three points.
Chelsea forward and player of the match Aggie Beever-Jones told Sky: “It meant a lot, we had a lot of anger coming into this game today.
“For me I am focusing on small targets, getting a start tonight was all I was focusing on. It is a massive game on the weekend, I hope I am giving the right people [selection] headaches.
“I mean we are Chelsea and losing two title is not the Chelsea way and it is not how we wanted it to go.”
Here is Chelsea’s third:
Catarina Macario with a brilliant delivery for Chelsea and Kadeisha Buchanan heads it home ☄️ pic.twitter.com/7nso3aJ43u
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) April 17, 2024
A 3-0 scoreline is not what Aston Villa will want to see and none of the players will be happy with the loss but if you look at the game as a whole they could have conceded a lot more goals than that after their second choice keeper was red carded in the fourth minute. A well-managed game for the visitors considering the circumstances.
Full time! Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa
Chelsea go back top of the Women’s Super League with a convincing 3-0 win over Aston Villa. The visitors had an uphill battle with keeper Leat getting a red card early on. Beever-Jones and Hamano scored in the first half and Buchanan added the third in the second 45. The title race is alive and it seems it will run it down to the wire to see who is crowned this season.
90 + 9 min: Chelsea are still pushing for another goal here, they know just how important the goal difference will be in this race. Daly hits the deck as she takes a bang to the head in the box but she is okay.
90 + 6 min: Buchanan concedes a corner after trying some fancy footwork, that could have been avoided. The delivery is good but Chelsea head clear.
90 + 4 min: Chelsea win a corner and Cuthbert takes it, it is headed on by Ingle but Villa block really well.
90 + 3 min: Villa win a free kick in a good position and Taylor stands over the ball. her delivery is good but Lawrence initially deals with it, it comes to Hanson but her effort is over the bar. It is end-to-end stuff as Chelsea quickly have a shot up the other end but Poor saves a chance by Ramirez.
90 + 2 min: Imagine being a Villa player and seeing the board light up with nine extra minutes, they must be exhausted.
90 + 1 min: Hampton has to make a save with Hanson on the end of another good ball through but her effort is too weak to trouble the Chelsea keeper. The Blues then counter and boos rain down as Ramirez thinks she is fouled in the box but it isn’t given. There will be nine minutes added.
89 min: Ward and Hayes are having a discussion and a chuckle at the sidelines while we wait for play to get back underway. Poor gets back to her feet and is okay to continue but she rolls the ball to her defence, not chancing a kick with her calf.
88 min: It is the same calf issue for Poor it seems, it is a deliberation for Carla Ward. Does she take her off with Leat facing a suspension for the next and Van Domselaar injured? If she does I believe Corsie will be the chosen player to be in goal.
86 min: Nobbs wins a free kick from Reiten. Taylor takes the set piece but Buchanan heads clear and Chelsea look to counter. Hamano has a sublime touch but her pass trying to find Kirby comes to Poor instead. The keeper is down again here, I think she has cramp with Corsie stretching out her leg.
85 min: A lovely ball for Hanson who times her run perfectly, she crosses in but no one is there to tap it home. Chelsea keeper Hampton has had hardly anything to do this game.
83 min: Lehmann with a lovely dummy run to unleash Villa but Buchanan sees the ball out for a throw. Villa work it to just inside the box but it goes out for a goal kick.
82 min: More changes as Mayling is off for Lehmann and Magill is replaced by Mullett. Chelsea also making a swap with Kaneryd in for Beever-Jones – the youngster having a good performance this evening.
81 min: A cross comes into Reiten, her first touch is so skilful but her shot is directly to Poor – arguably should have done better there.
80 min: That was so, so close for a Chelsea’s fourth. The hosts come forward and Villa don’t have bodies back after their attack, it comes to Kirby in the box but Poor saves really well to see it out for a corner. Cuthbert takes it but the delivery is poor and it is easily dealt with.
79 min: Lawrence gets a yellow card after she hauls down Hanson, it is in shootable distance and she gets it to the edge of the box. Patten works it but is pressured by Nusken who wins a Chelsea throw. It seems it is just not Villa’s day today.
77 min: Daly is down here, she looks in some pain. Beever-Jones stood on her foot, it is a foul but the referee didn’t give a free kick. Daly is back to her feet and didn’t need any medical attention.
75 min: Another great ball tries to find Ramirez but she is offside this time. Nobbs, who has been good for Villa this evening, finds a pocket of space but her resulting pass is intercepted by Buchanan.
73 min: Reiten kicks a pinpoint long range pass trying to find Ramirez but Poor collects before the forward gets onto it. Chelsea don’t take long to get back on the front foot – again – but Hamano’s header is over the bar.
71 min: The Chelsea armband is transferred to Cuthbert’s arm as she comes onto the pitch. Villa peel away as they look to cut the deficit down but Hamano does well to win it.
69 min: Kirby is blown for offside, that time she looked to have timed her run well but we play on. It doesn’t take long for the hosts to be back on the front foot but it goes out for a goal kick. Before that is taken Villa make a change with Hanson coming on for Dali and Chelsea also makes changes with Cuthbert on for Carter and Macario off for Ramirez.
67 min: Poor stays on the pitch but she stretches out as play gets back underway – she is not happy. I think Corsie will be the player to go into goal if she does eventually come off – she had a conversation with manager Carla Ward and Poor in that break.
66 min: Buchanan was beaming after that goal and no wonder, it is another first with the Canada international getting her first Chelsea goal. There is bad news for Villa though as keeper Poor is down again with injury, another reminder Villa do not have another keeper available and so a player will have to go into goal.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa (Buchanan, 64')
This time it is defender Buchanan who scores. Chelsea get going again and you won’t be surprised when I tell you they have won another corner. Macario is over it, she pops it in and Buchanan heads home.
Updated
63 min: Ingle gets a yellow card for a sliding tackle on Corsie, Villa have a free kick by the halfway line. Patten takes the kick and it has the distance but Chelsea’s wall halt the threat.
62 min: Corsie concedes a corner but it was her only option with Reiten crossing in. Macario, who has had good deliveries all game, takes the corner short. It comes to Buchanan whose shot is blocked and then Taylor does well to clear initially. The Blues keep coming but Hamano’s cross is claimed by a jumping Poor.
60 min: Kirby anticipates a bouncing ball well, she connects with Reiten and it eventually comes into the box for England international Kirby but her shot is wide. I have to say Kirby rarely has a bad game but this is probably the best I have seen her play for a while, her runs are causing issues for Villa.
58 min: Villa are really finding their attacking feet in this half but their execution in the final third is not good enough.
57 min: The corner is taken short but it is eventually put into the area but it’s cleared, the set pieces not coming together for Chelsea at the moment. The Blues make a change with Charles off for Reiten, the captaincy armband is given to Ingle.
55 min: Poor is put under pressure by Hamano who intercepts the goal kick and it is almost in! Chelsea win a corner, it comes in but the keeper gets a hand to it and it’s off for another corner. Macario is over the ball again and it is a good delivery but it is cleared, again for a corner.
54 min: Poor is okay to continue, it looked like an issue with her calf but she is back on her feet.
53 min: Macario, to Hamano, to Charles who crosses in but it has too much on it. Beever-Jones is now down with injury after Maritz stands on her foot, the Chelsea player is okay to continue. Villa keeper Poor is now down, which would be so unlucky as she is the last keeper involved for the team today. If she does off another player will have to go in goal.
51 min: Villa are creating opportunities but the final pass is either the wrong option or it isn’t coming off. Magill there playing it straight to Nusken to clear. Chelsea are countering now and it comes to Beever-Jones who has a phenomenal run but her effort is wide.
Updated
49 min: A lovely bit of play for Nobbs to find some space but Mayling’s pass back to her has a bit too much on it and the chance is gone. Poor has shown some good game management in this fixture too, she is aware her teammates sometimes need some time to recover and she takes some time over a goal kick. Corsie and Ingle attempt to get on the end of the kick but Ingle gets a hit to the face, she is okay to continue.
47 min: Villa starting this half well with some retained possession, they do have counter chances and they have had them so far this match but they haven’t pulled the trigger yet. If they capitalise on those efforts who knows what could happen.
Back underway! Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa
It feels as though Chelsea will run away with this game now but Aston Villa will do all they can to stop them. All action to come.
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A must read before the second half:
Here are the two goals so far:
The cross 👌
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) April 17, 2024
The finish 👌
Aggie Beever-Jones opens the scoring for Chelsea! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/XB0WMVEd4B
Maika Hamano scores her first goal for Chelsea! 🔵👏 pic.twitter.com/HLTlSMHguG
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) April 17, 2024
Half-time! Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa
Aston Villa were down to 10 after four minutes as goalkeeper Leat handled outside the area, stopping a sure goal. Poor has performed well on her debut but she didn’t manage to stop goals from Beever-Jones and Hamano. Damage control for Villa in the second half.
45 + 5 min: Apologies, Maritz didn’t get a yellow, it was Daly for dissent. Macario took the kick but it was cleared.
45 + 4 min: Beever-Jones is fouled by Maritz on the edge of the box, she is given a yellow and Chelsea have a free kick.
45 + 3 min: Dali makes a run forward but Lawrence does well to dispossess her. The Blues one the hunt for their third.
45 + 1 min: There will be four minutes added.
44 min: Chelsea getting every player on the ball in the build-up here and Lawrence sends it in, Hamano leaps to try and get on the end of it but it goes over her head. Sam Kerr and Millie Bright are shown in the stands, both players are still out with injury but Bright is back in training for the club.
42 min: Chelsea’s engine is revving now and Beever-Jones creates yet another chance but Poor gets to it first.
40 min: Poor got to the shot but didn’t have enough on it to push it clear. The goal is Hamano’s first for Chelsea
Updated
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa (Hamano, 38')
Lawrence pops it in and Hamano scores.
Updated
38 min: Daly, who is absolutely everywhere for Villa right now, is dispossessed by Beever-Jones but then the visitors win it back. Possession is exchanging hands frequently at the moment but Chelsea come forward now.
36 min: Beever-Jones doesn’t look the most comfortable, she crouched for a moment but she is okay to continue at the moment. The Blues come forward once again and this time it is Carter who wins a corner. Macario takes it short to Kirby, she plays it back to Macario but the resulting cross is blocked.
34 min: If Villa can keep the scoreline at 1-0 before half-time it will be impressive after going down to 10, that will be their target before they can catch their breath in the break. Chelsea are pressing for a second but Daly does well to block.
32 min: Chelsea are initially pinned in the midfield but the team work it upfield, Lawrence pops it in but Mayling sees it out for another corner – Mayling looking exhausted already here. The delivery is good again from Macario but Nusken’s effort is wide.
30 min: Chelsea create a chance with Charles crossing in but Maritz gets there to clear for a corner. Macario takes the set piece again but Poor punches clear, Hamano pops it back in but the keeper collects.
Updated
29 min: Chelsea may be winning but if you are Barcelona you are surely licking your lips at the prospect of playing the team in the Women’s Champions League this Saturday. Their attack remains frustrated with the latest seeing Hamano offside. The Blues still looking slightly off their best here.
27 min: Chelsea play the ball left and right but they can’t puncture the Villa defence, the visitors are holding up well here considering the circumstances.
25 min: Macario takes the corner and it is a good delivery, captain Charles gets a head to it but it drifts just wide.
24 min: Villa have reacted well to conceding but it is Chelsea who continue to press here. They are being patient in their build-up and have had the lion share in possession, now they win a corner.
22 min: The goals scored by Chelsea tonight are not only important for the win but also for the table. If they and Manchester City win the rest of their games the title will be decided on goal difference.
20 min: For the goal Charles makes a great cross to Beever-Jones, who finishes so well.
Updated
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa (Beever-Jones, 18')
There’s the first, maybe the first of many.
Updated
17 min: Poor comes good again as the ball is popped in but she reads it and confidently takes it – the teenager looks confident since coming on. I still can’t wrap my head around Leat’s red card, what was she thinking handling the ball? She only needed to stick a foot out to block the ball but I suppose it was a snap reaction. Her team have reacted really well to going down to 10 though.
15 min: Chelsea work the ball well through the team and Beever-Jones crosses in but Hamano is an inch or two from finding the back of the net.
13 min: Hamano pops in a peach of a ball and Nusken looks to tap home but Poor reads it well to collect. Villa are on the counter and Nobbs makes a great run through the middle and she takes a punt but it is over the bar.
12 min: A word for Poor too, the headlines will be Leat’s red card but this is quite the day for 17-year-old Poor who makes her WSL debut for the club – definitely not the scenario she would be wanting her debut to happen in.
10 min: Macario’s delivery is really good but it’s cleared well at the back post. Buchanan sends it back in but Dali clears, Villa have defended those well but can they keep this up throughout? It would be a heroic effort if so.
Updated
9 min: This is going to be a long evening for this Villa side now. Charles makes a good run but Corsie pulls her back, the Villa captain gets a yellow card and gives away the free kick.
8 min: Macario took the free kick resulting from that red card but it deflects over the bar for Chelsea corner. It’s a good delivery but Daly does well to clear. What a frantic start.
6 min: Leat walks off, she is already the team’s second choice keeper with Daphne van Domselaar out injured. Sophia Poor is now on with Ebony Salmon off, unfortunate for Salmon who takes one for the team. The red card came as Leat handled outside her area on what would have been a sure goal for Nusken.
RED CARD! Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa (Leat, 4')
Leat handled the ball outside of her box and she is sent off!
Updated
4 min: A really rogue pass from Ingle to the wide channel sees it rocket into the stands and Villa are able to set up an attack. But they aren’t on the ball for long with Buchanan winning it back well.
2 min: Chelsea start with a spell of possession but both finding their feet in this one. A note that Villa’s Simone Magill makes her 100th WSL appearance this evening.
Kick-off! Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
Here we go then.
The players are out at Kingsmeadow. Can Chelsea bounce back from their recent losses? Or will Aston Villa cause an upset? All to come with kick-off at 7pm BST.
Do send in any snack chat you have, tonight I am tucking into some chocolate digestives for this clash. Another topic which I would like to hear your thoughts on is what legacy Emma Hayes will leave in the WSL when she leaves at the end of the season. You can get in touch via email or X (@rendellx)
Aston Villa boss Carla Ward said on Rachel Daly, who plays for the first time tonight since announcing her international retirement: “Daly is a top professional, she has inspired many and she will continue to do so. In the week I have said England’s loss is Villa’s gain.”
Updated
Aston Villa have seen two teams beat Chelsea and keep them relatively quiet in the past few weeks. They didn’t have too many chances against Arsenal in the Conti Cup final and Manchester United did an excellent defensive job in the Women’s FA Cup semi-final. Of course Chelsea do eventually find a way through the defence and that is where goalkeepers have had to put in particularly good saves, particularly from shots from Lauren James’ boot. But they have blueprints to work from to defeat Chelsea this evening.
Have you listened to our weekly women’s football podcast? This week is focuses on the Women’s FA Cup and the fact there will be a new winner this season:
Aston Villa manager Carla Ward is wary of Chelsea this evening. “A wounded animal is a dangerous animal,” Ward said. “It’s as clear as that. Emma and her team are mentality monsters, we know that.
“They are hurting and you don’t ever want to play a team that’s hurting, especially a Chelsea team who are champions. They will want to react and I have absolutely no doubt they will react. They have world-class players, a world-class manager and they will be ready. They will want to put things right to make sure they stay on track to win the league.”
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes was asked about how the team are responding after the two tough losses recently. She said she has asked her players to “show up” for the other competitions they are left competing in but she did note she thought the team were taken for granted.
“I just want the players to go out and enjoy themselves tomorrow,” Hayes said. “I want them to play in front of a fanbase that I truly hope appreciates this group of players.
“I believe this team over a number of years has delivered so much success for this club and to these fans, and sometimes I feel the players get taken for granted on that. So I want our fans to show appreciation.
“I care that they realise the level of success we have had is difficult to do all the time, to keep winning and winning and winning. I’m proud that we keep doing that even if it doesn’t always go our way. We have to pick ourselves up and go again.”
Some big news from France as Ada Hegerberg has extended her contract with Lyon until 2027. Since joining the club in 2014 she has won eight league titles and six Champions League trophies.
Vous pensiez vraiment qu'elle allait partir !? pic.twitter.com/S3Euj6j5SU
— OL Féminin (@OLfeminin) April 17, 2024
Another big headline from the team news is that Lauren James is not included. Chelsea play Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League this weekend and so I am guessing she is being rested for that, I will let you know if there is any confirmation over her not being included tonight.
Updated
The team news is here. There is a first start for Catarina Macario for Chelsea.
Chelsea:
A first Chelsea start for @CatarinaMacario. 🙌#CFCW pic.twitter.com/9cDFp9kJYg
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) April 17, 2024
Aston Villa:
Representing Aston Villa this evening. 👊 pic.twitter.com/NN2WZaCOUa
— Aston Villa Women (@AVWFCOfficial) April 17, 2024
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to our Women’s Super League coverage. Tonight defending champions Chelsea take on Aston Villa in a bid to reclaim top of the table.
Manchester City are currently three points clear at the top but tonight’s match is Chelsea’s game in hand to try and keep their hope of silverware this season alive. Over the past few weeks the Blues have lost the Conti Cup final and their Women’s FA Cup semi-final and a loss tonight would be a significant blow to their WSL bid with just four game remaining following this evening’s game.
Aston Villa will do everything in their power to stop Chelsea’s hunt for a fifth consecutive season. Carla Ward’s team have had an underwhelming season after an impressive campaign in the 2022-23 season. They are seventh as things stand but a win tonight would close the gap on the top six.
We will take a look at what both managers have said in the build-up shortly. But first let’s take a look at the team news before kick-off at 7pm BST.
