Chelsea require an unexpected hero to get Sonia Bompastor era off to winning start
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It's the 93rd minute, and Chelsea is on edge. Aston Villa is going all out against the Women’s Super League champions, refusing to back down. Sonia Bompastor looks on as goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo is sent up into the box, following yet another set-piece opportunity for Villa to make one last push. The tension is palpable for Bompastor; this is quite the initiation. Welcome to Chelsea, the champions for the past five years, but right now, they're just trying to hold onto their lead at Kingsmeadow. And there’s D’Angelo, leaping to meet the cross with a header aimed towards the goal.
When Bompastor was in need of a savior, she discovered one in Hannah Hampton, the goalkeeper who made a critical save against her counterpart in the final moments, securing Chelsea a tight 1-0 victory to start the new season. Emma Hayes set incredibly high expectations during her 11 years with the Blues, but Villa appeared ready to remind the champions of reality in Bompastor’s inaugural match. Robert de Pauw’s team played exceptionally well for long stretches in their first game under his leadership and was worthy of an equalizer, but Hampton made a pivotal save, deflecting D’Angelo’s header onto the crossbar.
A goalkeeper had never managed to score against any of Bompastor’s teams previously, and the ex-Champions League titleholder with Lyon—both as a player and coach—was hoping and wishing at the end that D’Angelo wouldn't break that streak. “I have many talented players in my team, and Hannah is one of them,” Bompastor stated. “Having this sense of unity and determination is great. When a team is striving for a goal and puts in their all, it can become quite challenging to deal with. Displaying that kind of mentality was beneficial for us, as it’s essential.”
So how did Villa end up with nothing? “We’ll be questioning that all season,” De Pauw said. Under the Dutch manager, Villa was determined and aggressive. The team brought a lot of threat and energy from various directions, and they didn’t hold back even when playing against the champions on their turf. Rachel Daly was well-supported by Kenza Dali and Missy Bo Kearns, as well as from the bold advances of new signing Chasity Grant on the right. Grant's drive to push forward created the best opportunity in the first half when the Dutch winger sent a low cross into the box, but somehow Kearns couldn’t convert from just two yards out.
Villa's strategy resulted in an open match, allowing Chelsea to create numerous chances. Guro Reiten missed two shots from just inside the box and later delivered two more opportunities with crosses to the back post. First, Sjoeke Nusken’s volley went just wide as she aimed to connect with Millie Bright; then Lucy Bronze—making her first Chelsea start since rejoining the WSL—headed the ball straight at D’Angelo. It seemed like Chelsea was bound to score eventually, but Villa managed to disrupt their momentum. The first half was becoming increasingly challenging for Bompastor, until Johanna Rytting Kaneryd delivered a moment of brilliance in the 37th minute.
Bronze's presence during her first game contributed to the play, even though she never actually made contact with the ball. The right back's run to the outside of Rytting Kaneryd created a distraction for the Villa defense, leading them to believe another option was available. However, Rytting Kaneryd chose to ignore this and, using her left foot, executed a remarkable shot that curled into the far corner from 20 yards out. This heralded the beginning of the Bompastor era in impressive fashion, showcasing the depth of talent the French coach has in attack—Rytting Kaneryd's left foot was enough to keep Lauren James from starting.
Chelsea has seen the departure of key players who were instrumental in winning numerous titles during Hayes' tenure, including Jess Carter, Melanie Leupolz, and Maren Mjlede, who all left over the summer. However, some aspects of Chelsea's evolution began last season under Hayes, as new players like Hannah Hampton, Kadeisha Buchanan, Ashley Lawrence, Nusken, and Mayra Ramirez got acclimated to the team. Since then, Bompastor has brought in Bronze from Barcelona and Sandy Baltimore from Paris Saint-Germain. As a result, in her initial starting lineup, only Bright, Reiten, and Erin Cuthbert can be considered long-time stalwarts from Hayes' era.
Despite Villa being a constant danger, Chelsea showcased another of their strengths: their solid defense. It was put to the test. Daly nearly scored with a looping header that hit the crossbar, while Grant persistently pushed down the right side, getting close to the edge of the area. Even though Villa seemed to be losing their most threatening player after making two substitutions at the 67-minute mark, De Pauw's changes had a positive effect. Katie Robinson, one of their new signings, made an immediate impact and assisted Paula Tomas, whose powerful shot was blocked by Bright. Hampton, in an effort to keep a back pass in play and avoid conceding a corner, then had to make a save from Adriana Leon.
By that point, Chelsea had started to lose their grip on the game and were in a precarious situation. Fortunately, they had a solid defense made up of the experienced players Bright, Bronze, Buchanan, and Lawrence to rely on. Chelsea found themselves retreating deeper and deeper, with only the substitute James available for long passes. Villa made a relentless effort against Chelsea, pushing forward as D’Angelo moved up. But then Hampton made a crucial intervention; it was a narrow victory that marked the beginning of a new chapter.
