Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s gorgeous strike noticed Chelsea to a slim 1-0 win towards Aston Villa as Sonia Bompastor gained 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 have been pushed your complete means by a gifted Villa facet, themselves with new supervisor Robert de Pauw.
The hosts might have gone forward early on as Guro Reiten twice fired huge. Missy-Bo Kearns had Aston Villa’s greatest likelihood too, however might 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 possibility to take a degree away from Kingsmeadow. Hannah Hampton wanted to make two world-class saves in added time too, preserving 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 can be a reduction 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 tough. I instructed everybody I used to be anticipating that as a result of once we have been watching the Aston Villa video games throughout pre-season, that they had actually nice video games and so they’re a superb crew.
“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 amazing objective, we should always perhaps have scored two or three, particularly within the first half. It modifications the sport if you’re ready to try 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 towards 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 all the time essential to win. If you are able to do that and have good content material within the sport, I would be the most comfortable. However generally it’s a must to give credit score to the opposite crew and Aston Villa have been making issues laborious for us.”
Chelsea goalscorer Johanna Rytting Kaneyrd to Sky Sports News: “It is an unbelievable feeling [her goal]. This yr, I have been engaged on my left foot and I stunned myself to be sincere. I felt like I bought a superb shot and I believe 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 now have 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 essential that you may say you gave all of it. Errors are made by all people, Chelsea additionally made lots in some moments. Simply deal with 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 all the time a little bit bit extra of a realist than an optimist, however you all the time have to take 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 lots we have to work on however it’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 in. We have got 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 thought for her possession-based, flowing, build-up soccer – however that isn’t fairly what we noticed from Chelsea.
It was extra gung-ho attacking soccer which did have a pleasant aspect of build-up play. Guro Reiten and Rytting Kaneyrd particularly did effectively, though debutant Sandy Baltimore struggled up towards the skilled Noelle Moritz.
There have been glimpses within the second half that she is likely to be attending to grips with the league, however in the end had little or no impression.
Maybe an irk for Bompastor too can be the truth that Aston Villa had 52.5 per cent of the ball – greater than the supposedly new possession-based Chelsea. Equal too have been the variety of photographs (13) from either side.
After all, any model – particularly one that could be a departure from over a decade underneath one supervisor – takes time to implement. Bompastor may even have learnt lots about her gamers and the WSL as a complete.
As a result of because the previous cliche goes, there are not any straightforward 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 instances. They need to have had a objective for his or her play too, however couldn’t discover their well past Hampton.
Underneath De Pauw, Aston Villa confirmed their class and had a willpower that generally lacked final season. They’ve constructed a gifted squad filled with WSL expertise and can be actual contenders this season.
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