1-2 v Chelsea FC - 1 October 2023 - Away

A spirited second-half display just failed to reap reward against Chelsea as we slipped to a 2-1 defeat in our Barclays Women’s Super League opener at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening.

New Head Coach Robert Vilahamn’s first starting XI featured four new signings with Luana Buhler, Grace Clinton, Olga Ahtinen and Thomas all making their debuts, but Bethany England missed out against her former club through injury. Chelsea were also without a key player as Australian striker Sam Kerr was out injured, while they gave debuts to new signings Sjoeke Nusken and Fishel, top scorer in the Mexican league last season.

The hosts started brightly with Lauren James hitting a left-footed drive that was pushed away for a corner by Becky Spencer, with Molly Bartrip clearing Jess Carter’s header off the line from the set-piece. But we were well in the game and on nine minutes, Ahtinen’s superb ball found Thomas, but her 25-yard drive was straight at Musovic. At the other end, James curled just over the bar.

It was end-to-end at times as both sides looked to break the deadlock. Celine Bizet whipped in a first-time cross which Thomas just didn’t quite connect with and Chelsea cleared, before Bizet won the ball just outside the Blues’ box and played in Thomas but Maren Mjelde was across quickly to deny the Scottish forward a shooting opportunity.

Nusken then headed straight at Spencer before the home side took the lead in the 28th minute. Niamh Charles took a throw in and received the ball back, skipped past Buhler and sent over a cross which Fishel met with a glancing header past Spencer.

Chelsea’s statistics after scoring first are formidable, having won 41 of the last 43 games in which they have done so, but we continued to play our football and almost levelled it up on the stroke of half-time. A lovely pass from Spence put Thomas in behind, her shot was well saved by Musovic and Thomas then headed the rebound back towards goal from a tight angle but Millie Bright was there to head off the line.

We were up against it in the early stages of the second half as Chelsea had us on the back foot. James hit the crossbar with a curling effort, Spencer made a fine save to keep out Fishel from close range and Ashleigh Neville cleared Guro Reiten’s effort off the line – all within the space of two minutes. But the second goal did come from the next phase of play, James volleying Charles’ cross home from close range.

We looked for a quick response though, only to be denied twice by Musovic as she kept out shots from Clinton and Neville, while Thomas fired wide when it looked like she was going to score after great work down the left from substitute Jessica Naz. Then, with 14 minutes left, we got the goal we deserved to get back into the game, Clinton firing in a left-foot drive that Musovic fumbled and, quick as a flash, Thomas was on hand to prod the ball home.

The goal gave us renewed hope as we pushed Chelsea back with our high press proving effective, almost levelling when Thomas fired wide before Naz’s composed effort forced Musovic into a fine save. But the home side went close to a third when Melanie Leupolz volleyed over and Jelena Cankovic had a goal ruled out for offside in the 89th minute.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t carve out that one final chance and headed back to north London without anything to show for our efforts.