Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal: Women’s Super League – as it happened
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That's everything for this evening. Suzanne Wrack's match review from Stamford Bridge is what I shall leave you with- goodbye!
I enjoy playing at Stamford Bridge because it's like a second home where I feel relaxed. My teammates support me in defending the goal, and once they see me doing my duty, they let me take control of the ball and do what I do best.
When I watch back the best moments of my performance, I realize that I don't put too much thought into it. Instead, I simply respond to what the other team is doing and give it my all. I focus on what's happening in the moment and adjust my actions accordingly.
We were quite annoyed [with the delay before the game]. However, when the match finally began, we were able to handle the situation effectively. We didn't find out about the delay until late in the day, after our team talk, which was strange. Nonetheless, we are professional and have to cope with unexpected situations. The girls conducted themselves flawlessly.
We were full of energy. I recall the previous game [the 4-1 loss to Arsenal] clearly. They emerged victorious in the midfield, and I am taking it as a personal challenge.
Our team has a special method called ‘The Chelsea Way’ that helps us persevere through tough times. Even when it seems like we're defeated, we manage to overcome obstacles. We actually relish the opportunity to face difficulties and it fills me with pride to see how well we did today.
When looking at the WSL table, you can see the impact of this result.
The Chelsea athletes who were hurt - Millie Bright and Sam Kerr - are presently rejoicing enthusiastically on the grounds. This is genuinely momentous. Chelsea's victory has been a remarkable achievement not only for the team but also for their coach, Emma Hayes.
Chelsea Defeats Arsenal 3-1 In Full Time
It's official - Chelsea's impressive showing has ended Arsenal's chances of winning the championship*. Chelsea got the job done in the opening half with the dynamic Lauren James and Sjoeke Nusken, scoring three goals in just 18 minutes. James, who took on the role of a false nine, was outstanding and electrifying. Even though Arsenal showed some improvement in the second half, the rest of the game was basically just a formality.
In the 94th minute, Zinsberger once again saved the day using her legs to block Lawrence's shot that was aimed low.
In the 93rd minute, Maanum attempted to embarrass me by shooting a high ball from 25 yards away. Although it went over Hampton, it also missed the crossbar.
With just two minutes left in the game, Arsenal is putting forth effort on the field, but it doesn't seem to be leading to any success. It appears that the outcome of the game has been decided and there is little hope for improvement.
After playing for an hour and a half, five extra minutes were given before the end of the game.
Wow, that was a close call! Russo took a snapshot from the edge of the field, but unfortunately, she didn't hit the ball cleanly and it ended up being too near to Hampton. If only she had gotten a better connection with it...
Little had taken a shot that was clearly going to miss the goal. As a result, Hampton received a yellow card for kicking the ball away in frustration about their opponent scoring a goal and taking away their chance of keeping a clean record.
Chelsea Victorious Over Arsenal: 3-1
No way. When McCabe kicked the ball from the corner to the right, it was cleared towards the edge of the area. Little quickly took a shot that hit Macario and went past Hampton. From my perspective, the shot was not even going towards the goal post, so it's an own goal. However, they are currently giving credit to Little.
After 83 minutes of play, Lauren James was switched out for Catarina Macario in a Chelsea substitution. The Chelsea supporters were so moved by Lauren's exceptional play that they gave her a standing ovation. Manager Emma Hayes proudly applauded from the sideline as well.
During the first half, James proved to be superior to Arsenal. He showcased his intelligence, skill, power, and ultimately was too much for them to handle.
In 81 minutes of play, Mead had some room to move on the left side. However, her attempt to cross the ball was not successful as it was intercepted by Carter at the near post. Unfortunately, the team has not been very effective in their attacking strategies.
In just 80 minutes, the blog section highlights that even if Arsenal manages to emerge victorious in their final six league matches, one of which includes an intense duel with Manchester City, it won't suffice to secure their spot unless Chelsea loses at least six points. Unfortunately, the probability of such an outcome appears minimal.
It's been 77 minutes and not a lot of action is taking place on the field. Chelsea is managing to maintain a comfortable distance from Arsenal without much difficulty.
In the game, James made a fantastic move on the left side of the field to get past Little, dazzling with his quick footwork. He then took a powerful shot that unfortunately hit Cooney-Cross and went out of bounds, resulting in a corner kick. The entire sequence took a total of 74 minutes of game time.
After 73 minutes, Zinsberger received treatment, but fortunately, she is able to keep playing. This is great news because Arsenal has exhausted all five of their substitutions.
In the 72nd minute of the Arsenal game, Lia Walti was replaced by Kyra Cooney-Cross.
After 71 minutes of play, McCabe made a cross that was too near Hampton. However, Hampton had been coping well with the previous balls that had made their way into the box. Throughout the game so far, there hadn't been many shots for Hampton to save, only one from Catley in the 10th minute.
After playing for 70 minutes, Charles made way for Ashley Lawrence in a Chelsea substitution. Charles was doing great, especially on the left side of the field as a left-back.
Chelsea has received some troubling news regarding player Niamh Charles. After playing for a mere 70 minutes, she experienced an injury and must leave the game. While she appears to be walking without difficulty, it is unclear what the extent of her injury may be. The team's upcoming Tuesday match against Ajax may be impacted as a result. However, it is hoped that Charles' departure from the game was purely precautionary to prevent any further damage.
In the 69th minute, Russo dashed intelligently behind Carter who managed to regain control and blocked Russo's shot, resulting in a corner kick.
After 68 minutes of play, Zinsberger made another important save to keep Arsenal's hopes alive. The opposing team was capable of breaking through their defenses with ease, and Reiten managed to get past Fox on the left side of the field. From there, she found Rytting Kaneryd in a perfect position to score. But Zinsberger was quick to react, stopping the hard shot from close range. She managed to push the ball up into the air and catch it on her second attempt. Arsenal were lucky to have such a talented goalie on their team.
In the 67th minute of the game, Lacasse got a booking for a sneaky trip on Charles.
During the game, Sky commentators mentioned that Leah Williamson had a challenging time. She made mistakes for the third goal and arguably the second one too. Additionally, she did not show her usual composed confidence throughout the game.
After James' chance, I believe Russo attempted a shot that was swiftly blocked. However, it was only a small chance at best. The entire sequence lasted approximately 63 minutes.
After 61 minutes of play, James had a fantastic opportunity to score. Chelsea made the Arsenal defense look weak by effortlessly passing the ball over 60 yards, with Charles providing the critical second pass that allowed James to get a clear run at goal. With ample time to move forward and compose herself, James unleashed a left-footed shot towards the goal, but Zinsberger made an impressive save with her legs. While the save was good, James could have done better as she gave away her intention to shoot earlier than expected.
In the 61st minute, McCabe took a free-kick from the left side, but unfortunately, it was too easy for Hampton to save the ball. Despite Arsenal having more possession since they fell behind 2-0, Chelsea appeared to be at ease and in control of the game.
Mead has changed her position to the left side, but she's still struggling to contribute to the game. This seems to be a common issue among all the Arsenal attackers, except for Foord who has shown some promise. The game has been a challenge for them all.
In the 57th minute of the Arsenal game, Caitlin Foord was replaced by Cloe Lacasse. Caitlin Foord did not seem happy about being taken out of the game.
Even though it's not a crucial part of the bigger picture, Chelsea would really like to have a higher score in total against their opponent. They will likely have many opportunities to attack in the second half.
After 54 minutes of play, Zinsberger made a crucial save that kept Arsenal in the game. If Chelsea had scored, it could have been the end for Arsenal. Rytting Kaneryd received a quick and skilful pass from Cuthbert, which she used to sprint towards the goal from 30 yards away. She managed to weave in between Wubben-Moy and Williamson, but had a tough time trying to get the ball over Zinsberger, who had come out of her goal. However, Zinsberger was up to the challenge and made an excellent save.
In the match, Foord was unlawfully obstructed by Perisset, which caused Foord to push her in annoyance. Arsenal has commenced the second portion of the game with more determination, and a point at this moment would add an intriguing twist.
Cuthbert made a legitimate challenge with the ball and woman that made Fox fly just outside of Arsenal's area for a total of 50 minutes. This shows how Chelsea has a stronger intensity compared to Arsenal.
In the game, James used his shoulder to push Mead out of the field and into the dugout for 48 minutes. Mead was lying there for a short while, but she appears to be unharmed.
McCabe takes a shot from 25 yards out but unfortunately it goes over the goal. This happens within the first 47 minutes of the game.
The second half starts off with Arsenal making three substitutions: Emily Fox, Frida Maanum, and Alessia Russo are coming in to replace Steph Catley, Victoria Pelova, and Stina Blackstenius. This also means that Katie McCabe will be shifting her position to play as a left-back.
Chelsea Lead 3-0 Against Arsenal At Half-time
Arsenal's chances of winning the title look bleak after a dreadful first half at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea were exceptional despite their injuries, displaying skill and determination. Lauren James scored the first goal brilliantly, while Sjoeke Nusken deflected shots from Cuthbert and Rytting Kaneryd to score the second and third goals respectively. Although the third goal was a bit of a fluke, Arsenal didn't perform well enough to warrant any sympathy for their bad luck.
At the 45th minute and 2nd mark, Catley exits the field, leaving James to receive a brief corner from Perisset. James then expertly strikes the ball from 20 yards away, causing it to curl and land successfully. Meanwhile, the camera pans to Jonas Eidevall, who clearly portrays his displeasure with a look of despair and frustration on his face.
During the 45th minute and 2nd minute of the game, Catley unexpectedly fell and required medical attention. It seems that her leg had collided with Nusken's, which initially did not appear serious, but ultimately turned out to be.
After 45 minutes of playing time plus an additional 2 minutes, it is possible that Chelsea may have placed something in their players' socks.
The referee has announced that there will be an additional three minutes played beyond the regulation time, marking a total of 45 minutes and one minute into the game.
Charles Antaki is pondering the performance of Blackstenius and Russo in the last 45 minutes. According to him, even if Arsenal were to use Nellie the Elephant as their top forward, it wouldn't make any difference in the game. Arsenal is not putting up much of a resistance against the unstoppable Chelsea. This lackluster performance is getting close to humiliating, and it puts an end to any hope Arsenal had of winning the league.
During the match, Reiten took a free-kick that hit the top part of the goal net. Zinsberger remained stationary and did not attempt to stop it. The entire event lasted for 43 minutes.
After running gracefully for 42 minutes, James was unfortunately tripped at the edge of the area by McCabe, who was surprisingly given a yellow card. Throughout the game, James has been outstanding.
It looks like Arsenal's hopes of winning the title are now over. Even if they had lost, it would have been a significant setback, but a crushing defeat like this one (if it does happen) will be nearly impossible to recover from.
Wow, Sjoeke Nusken was a surprising starter for Chelsea and ended up scoring twice and assisting on the other goal! It's clear that Emma Hayes will be greatly missed when she eventually leaves her position.
In 36 minutes of the game, Foord gets the opportunity to score as Blacksteinius passes the ball perfectly. However, Perisset comes in between Foord and the ball, and Hampton promptly claims the ball. This is a great example of good defensive play.
After another swift break from Chelsea, James misses the target by a margin of 34 minutes. Arsenal is currently in a state of disarray.
During the game, Rytting Kaneryd intercepted a risky pass made by Williamson on the other side of the field, close to the middle of the pitch. She managed to reach the ball before Catley and ran towards an open space on the field. As she got closer to the Arsenal team's defense, Kaneryd continued to sprint towards the edge of the penalty area. She skillfully maneuvered past Wubben-Moy and with her left foot, fired a shot towards the goal. The ball unexpectedly deflected off her teammate Nusken and made its way into the far corner of the net.
Nusken attempted to evade the shot and turned her head in an apologetic manner as the ball made its way into the net. That was fortunate on her part. Rytting Kaneryd's shot was exceptional, despite its likelihood of missing the target.
Chelsea Scores 3-0 Against Arsenal
Wow, Sjoeke Nusken has just scored a goal that's a bit ridiculous, bringing the score to 3-0!
Arsenal has held the ball for 30 minutes straight, and it seems like they're responding positively to the goals scored by both teams. Mead is attempting to push past Charles, but Charles does a good job of pushing her away and earning a goalkick. Isn't it possible to earn a goalkick? You probably know what I mean.
Arsenal has shown some promising attacking play for around 27 minutes, although they could improve their accuracy. However, they are encountering considerable difficulty in stopping James, who is expertly demonstrating how to perform as a false nine.
In a soccer match, Cuthbert committed a foul on Pelova almost at a distance of 25 yards away from the goal. Then, Mead took advantage of the free-kick opportunity but unfortunately, the ball was struck too high and went over the crossbar.
