Report: Chelsea 1 United Women 0

5 hours ago

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Sunday, November 24, 2024, at 2:05 PM

Manchester United's run of not losing any matches to start the season came to a halt with a close 1-0 loss to Chelsea at Kingsmeadow.

A penalty by Guro Reiten in the first half was the lone difference between the two teams, as the Reds delivered a strong defensive effort throughout the entire 90 minutes.

We had to bide our time for opportunities, with Geyse nearly bringing the score level in the second half and Malard hitting the crossbar, but Marc Skinner's team was unable to find a way to equalize.

Maya Le Tissier played a key role in stopping the Blues multiple times.

Geyse, who was running down the left flank, created some early challenges for the home team's defense. She connected well with Rachel Williams, but just after making a promising run, she drifted offside. Geyse delivered a cross into the penalty area, which ended up in the back of the net, but unfortunately, the referee had already blown the whistle.

Chelsea had the first real opportunity of the half when Sandy Baltimore created some space on the left and sent a cross into the penalty area. Shortly after, Ramirez managed to get into the box, but her pass back was cut off and cleared for a corner. Maika Humano then had a chance of her own, but her shot from close range went directly to Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Manchester United started to demonstrate why they have the top defensive record in the league, effectively handling the ongoing pressure from Chelsea.

At the 16-minute mark, Mayra Ramirez broke free towards the goal, forcing Tullis-Joyce to make a crucial choice. As she reached for the ball, she accidentally caught the Chelsea striker's foot, resulting in a penalty kick being awarded. Our goalkeeper guessed the correct direction, but Reiten's penalty was struck with great force, giving the home team the lead.

As United sought to level the score, the match started to heat up a bit, but it was the Reds who ended up on the wrong side of the referee's decision. When the ball was sent into the box, Williams jumped to intercept it, along with Chelsea's goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton. It appeared to be a fair contest, but the referee intervened, issuing a yellow card to Williams.

Nonetheless, the event appeared to motivate the Reds for a short time, and Williams's curved pass was just a bit too far ahead of Celin Bizet, who was ready to make the finishing touch.

Just before halftime, Chelsea had an opportunity to strike again, but Millie Turner and Maya Le Tissier put in a strong defensive effort. Their determination and commitment kept the Blues from adding to their score.

Celine Bizet aims to take on Sandy Baltimore.

United came out strong in the second half, with Geyse having an early opportunity that ended in a goal-kick. A well-placed free-kick was sent into the box, but the line of United players couldn't manage to direct a header towards the goal.

The closest we got to scoring in the match so far was when Geyse made a move just outside the box. Her shot took a slight deflection, appearing to be on target for the top corner. However, Hampton kept a close eye on the ball and was able to make the save.

Turner made a great effort to push Ramirez out wide, leaving her with a difficult angle. The Blues player still managed to get a shot off, but Tullis-Joyce was there to stop it from going in at the near post. Just moments later, she was called into action again, making an impressive save as Erin Cuthbert charged into the box and fired a shot that the American keeper deflected with her fingertips.

An error at the back between Tullis-Joyce and Turner created an opportunity for Chelsea, but Le Tissier sprinted back to make an excellent defensive stop.

Chelsea had a series of corners and crosses that were effectively dealt with by Tullis-Joyce, who was working hard to keep the Reds competitive. When Chelsea earned a free-kick in a threatening position, United's defense rose to the occasion, with Geyse making a fantastic block. Tullis-Joyce then confidently saved a shot from Ramirez.

Geyse was the source of all United's creativity, and she made another attempt as we reached the six-minute mark of stoppage time. With her impressive footwork, she managed to slip past the Blues' defense. Our number 23 sent a powerful pass into the box, reaching Malard, who skillfully turned, repositioned herself, and took a shot that Hampton could only watch as it struck the crossbar.

The Reds had several opportunities in the closing moments, mainly from set plays, including a free-kick and a few corner kicks. Tullis-Joyce moved forward to add extra pressure, but they were unable to break through Chelsea's defense, which ultimately marked the end of their unbeaten streak this season.

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Chelsea's lineup against Hampton included: Bronze, Bjorn, Bright (captain), Baltimore, Rytting Kaneryd, Cuthbert, Humano (substituted for Macário at the 56th minute), Nusken, Reiten (replaced by Beever-Jones also at the 56th minute), and Ramirez.

Substitutes who didn't get any playing time: Musovic, Alejandra Bernabe, Jean-François, Kaptein, Lawrence, Mpome, and Périsset.

United: Tullis-Joyce; George (substituted for Sandberg in the 90+3 minute), Turner, Le Tissier (captain), Riviere; Janssen, Awujo (substituted for Ladd in the 89 minute), Bizet (substituted for Galton in the 61 minute), Geyse; Clinton, Williams (substituted for Malard in the 61 minute).

Substitutes that didn't play: Middleton-Patel, Simpson, Miyazawa, and Watson.

Reserved: Tullis-Joyce, Williams, Clinton, Janssen.

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