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Champions Chelsea opened the new Women’s Super League season with a nervy victory over Aston Villa in their first match under Sonia Bompastor.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s superb strike in the 37th minute was the difference at a sold-out Kingsmeadow to give Bompastor a winning start after replacing Emma Hayes in the summer.
But Villa, who were also under a new boss in Robert de Pauw, were bright throughout and made life difficult for the hosts. Rachel Daly hit the top of the crossbar with a looping header, before the visitors pilled on the pressure in stoppage time.
In stoppage time, Hannah Hampton was forced to make two brilliant saves - denying Daly and then Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, who had been thrown forward in a final row of the dice for the visitors.
Chelsea held on to start their bid for a sixth-consecutive WSL title, where they are expected to face competition once again from Manchester City and Arsenal over the season. Those teams meet at the Emirates on Sunday.
