Chelsea’s Victory at West Ham Propels them to Top of WSL Standings
Chelsea returned to the top of the Women’s Super League (WSL) with a battling victory at West Ham. Aggie Beever-Jones and Erin Cuthbert were on target as the Blues moved back above Manchester City on goal difference with five games remaining.
Chelsea’s Resilience Against Spirited West Ham
In a pulsating first half, West Ham nearly took the lead after 20 seconds through Viviane Asseyi’s header, but Chelsea quickly responded by scoring with their first attack. Lauren James ran onto a through ball and played a neat cutback for Beever-Jones to score from close range.
Despite being a team sitting second-bottom of the table, West Ham put up a spirited fight against Chelsea. The Hammers felt aggrieved when Honoka Hayashi had the ball in the Chelsea net but was flagged offside, despite replays showing she was behind the last defender.
Cuthbert Seals the Points
Cuthbert sealed the points for Chelsea late in the game with a thumping volley from inside the area. This victory maintains Chelsea’s bid for a potential quadruple, as they have now won six successive games across four competitions.
West Ham’s Performance and Relegation Fears
West Ham can take heart from their display against Chelsea but know they need to turn performances into results if they are to banish any lingering relegation fears. Despite holding Manchester United to a draw two weeks ago and beating title challengers Arsenal last month, West Ham remains six points above bottom side Bristol City after their defeat on Sunday.
Missed Opportunities for West Ham
After falling behind early on, Kirsty Smith had a chance to equalize for West Ham but skewed her effort wide. Riko Ueki also struck the bar with a wonderful effort from distance, while Asseyi blazed over from inside the area just before half-time.
Chelsea’s Control and Busy Schedule
Chelsea gained more control of the game after the break and came close to doubling their lead when Mayra Ramirez’s scrambled finish hit the post. Manager Emma Hayes may look to rotate her squad for the second leg against Ajax in the Champions League quarter-final, as she aims to navigate a busy schedule. After Ajax, Chelsea will face Arsenal in the Women’s League Cup final on March 31 and Manchester United in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals next month.
Line-ups
West Ham Women Formation 3-4-2-1: Arnold, Shimizu, Tysiak, Zadorsky, Denton, Hayashi, Gorry, Smith, Ziu, Asseyi, Ueki.
Chelsea Women Formation 4-4-2: Hampton, Lawrence, Carter, Buchanan, Charles, Rytting Kaneryd, Cankovic, Leupolz, Beever-Jones, James, Nüsken.
Conclusion
Chelsea’s victory against West Ham has propelled them to the top of the WSL standings. Despite a spirited performance from West Ham, Chelsea showed resilience and secured the win with goals from Beever-Jones and Cuthbert. With a busy schedule ahead, including Champions League and cup fixtures, Chelsea will need to continue their winning streak to maintain their bid for a potential quadruple. Meanwhile, West Ham will need to convert their performances into results to avoid relegation.