Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s gorgeous strike noticed Chelsea to a slim 1-0 win in opposition to Aston Villa as Sonia Bompastor received her first WSL sport in cost.
It was the primary time in 12 years that Chelsea had walked out with out Emma Hayes within the dugout, however the Blues had been pushed your complete manner by a gifted Villa aspect, themselves with new supervisor Robert de Pauw.
The hosts may have gone forward early on as Guro Reiten twice fired vast. Missy-Bo Kearns had Aston Villa’s finest likelihood too, however may solely divert over the crossbar from shut vary.
And with lower than 10 minutes of the half to play, Chelsea took the lead. Rytting Kaneryd chopped previous Paula Tomas and despatched an outstanding curling effort previous Sabrina D’Angelo.
The second half was end-to-end, as Aston Villa rightly sensed the prospect to take a degree away from Kingsmeadow. Hannah Hampton wanted to make two world-class saves in added time too, maintaining out headers from Rachel Daly after which, extremely, her reverse quantity D’Angelo to maintain Chelsea’s lead intact.
Whereas the win was not fairly performed within the possession-based model Bompastor prefers, there might be a aid to have a opening weekend win underneath her belt – particularly after such a end.
Chelsea view: ‘We knew it could be a troublesome sport’
Chelsea supervisor Sonia Bompastor to Sky Sports activities Information: “It was actually troublesome. I informed everybody I used to be anticipating that as a result of after we had been watching the Aston Villa video games throughout pre-season, they’d actually nice video games and so they’re a superb staff.
“Tactically, it was a battle. It’s good because this is why this league is so competitive and the best in the world. This is why I’m going to enjoy it here.
“We scored an ideal purpose, we should always possibly have scored two or three, particularly within the first half. It modifications the sport once you’re in a position to do this.
“I was proud of the players because until the end, they showed a good team spirit and that’s a good thing if we want to go though the season trying to have good results.
Rytting Kaneryd celebrates scoring Chelsea’s winner in opposition to Aston Villa
“She [Rytting Kaneyrd] took a chance and I always encourage my players to shoot on goal because they have a lot of quality and sometimes, they don’t realise that. I’m encouraging them to shoot and it was successful.
“It is at all times vital to win. If you are able to do that and have good content material within the sport, I would be the most comfortable. However typically you need to give credit score to the opposite staff and Aston Villa had been making issues onerous for us.”
Chelsea goalscorer Johanna Rytting Kaneyrd to Sky Sports News: “It is an unbelievable feeling [her goal]. This 12 months, I have been engaged on my left foot and I shocked myself to be trustworthy. I felt like I obtained a superb shot and I feel it was fairly lovely.
“It’s a typical first game of the season. It’s moments during the game that are good and others that aren’t as good. We still need to work on some things, but I’m happy we won.”
Aston Villa view: ‘We’ve to take the positives’
Aston Villa supervisor Robert de Pauw to Sky Sports activities Information: “It says a lot that they were taking time in the end… the goalkeeper saved Chelsea in the end, it was very close. They scored the goal in the right moment, we had some big chances, but they’re the lucky champions.
“Ultimately, they gave their coronary heart. After each sport, it is vital which you can say you gave all of it. Errors are made by all people, Chelsea additionally made rather a lot in some moments. Simply give attention to the optimistic and take the negatives with us to enhance.
“I still think we can improve 15 per cent or something. There’s also still quality to come in our team, but in the end it’s about the points, so we have to focus on Spurs.
“I am at all times a bit bit extra of a realist than an optimist, however you at all times have to have a look at the positives.”
Aston Villa forward Rachel Daly to Sky Sports News: “We have proven the league what we’re about already. We have had a superb pre-season, there’s rather a lot we have to work on but it surely’s a superb basis.
Rytting Kaneryd and Aston Villa’s Paula Tomas battle for the ball
“No one wants to lose but to come to the champions’ home ground and have them trying to play the ball in the corner, it’s a good start. Onwards and upwards.
“It is a new supervisor, a brand new model, new gamers have are available. We have a giant squad, we need to compete and we confirmed that.
“Sabs could have been the hero. In pre-season, she actually played outfield for some of the games. She did well.”
Bompastor model but to return as Villa present class
Evaluation from Sky Sports activities’ Charlotte Marsh:
Bompastor is understood for her possession-based, flowing, build-up soccer – however that’s not fairly what we noticed from Chelsea.
It was extra gung-ho attacking soccer which did have a pleasant ingredient of build-up play. Guro Reiten and Rytting Kaneyrd particularly did properly, though debutant Sandy Baltimore struggled up in opposition to the skilled Noelle Moritz.
There have been glimpses within the second half that she is perhaps attending to grips with the league, however in the end had little or no influence.
Maybe an irk for Bompastor too might be the truth that Aston Villa had 52.5 per cent of the ball – greater than the supposedly new possession-based Chelsea. Equal too had been the variety of pictures (13) from each side.
In fact, any model – particularly one that may be a departure from over a decade underneath one supervisor – takes time to implement. Bompastor may also have learnt rather a lot about her gamers and the WSL as an entire.
As a result of because the previous cliche goes, there are not any simple video games within the WSL, however Chelsea did face a very spectacular Aston Villa.
They pressed Chelsea out of possession and put them underneath actual stress at occasions. They need to have had a purpose for his or her play too, however couldn’t discover their well beyond Hampton.
Below De Pauw, Aston Villa confirmed their class and had a willpower that typically lacked final season. They’ve constructed a gifted squad stuffed with WSL expertise and might be actual contenders this season.
Story of the match in stats
What’s developing within the WSL?
Friday twenty seventh September 7:00pm
Kick off 7:30pm
