12 points. And counting
We need to recognise every now and then that the standards set by Chelsea Women are extremely high. That’s the result of having so little room for failure in every competition we enter, including the 22-match Women’s Super League; and the fact we’ve done things such as winning every single domestic title there was to win last season, not losing a single game in the process.
The core of this squad didn’t change much from the one that got the treble in Sonia Bompastor’s debut year. Our opposition however have gotten much better in countering whatever we throw at them.
Manchester City came to the Etihad today seeking revenge. You can’t fault them for putting on extra effort on beating the only team able to defeat them thus far this season. And we did this twice already!
Kerolin’s opener was a mix of good positioning on our part and bad positioning from us. There wasn’t much Hannah Hampton could do with a powerful shot inside the area pinballing on Chelsea defenders, taking the goalkeeper completely out of the play.
Bunny Shaw’s goal couldn’t come on better timing for the hosts. Just as Chelsea were increasing the heat against Ayaka Yamashita, the striker beat Naomi Girma and lobbed Hampton to score her team’s second today.
Chelsea returned from the tunnels looking to push forward and start a comeback akin to the men’s yesterday. In the process Lauren Hemp won a challenge versus Keira Walsh and set Kerolin to ran freely towards the box. A third goal for City, 50 minutes into the match.
When it rains, it pours. And goals poured heavily for Kerolin, who completed her hat-trick with ease.
With Kerolin getting her deserved honours as she walked to the bench for a substitution, City lost the one player constantly keeping Chelsea on their toes. Suddenly Alyssa Thompson had plenty of time and space to shoot at goal inside the box, something we rarely do nowadays. 1-4, Chelsea.
That glimmer of hope didn’t last long. In usual fashion Chelsea completely botched a corner kick defence and Vivianne Miedema was free to score a fifth goal for her team.
Given what she’s done last season, Bompastor would have a lot of leeway if she failed to win anything this season. But you can hardly see signs of anything salvageable here. It’s harsh but it’s the result of the outstanding standards we can’t afford to lose by attributing losses and performances like today’s as an “off-year”.
- False-nine.
- Bunny Shaw finally gets a goal against us.
- We need something upfront that isn’t lobbing crosses to no one and long-ranged pot-shots.
- We might as well need a new coach, too.
- Next up: Tottenham away in the Women’s Super League.
- KTBFFH.
Category: General Sports
