Bompastor celebrates new Chelsea deal with win over rivals Spurs

Chelsea closed the gap at the top of the Women’s Super League table to nine points after they beat Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With pop star Madonna watching on, Kiera Walsh opened the scoring at the end of a nervy first half during which Spurs created numerous opportunities to take the lead.

Alyssa Thompson then doubled Chelsea’s lead four minutes after the break, earning Sonia Bompastor her first win since signing her new deal at the club.

Despite Chelsea dominating the ball in the early stages, the first chance of the match fell to Spurs’ Bethany England. The forward was played one on one with Hannah Hampton, who stayed big and stopped the striker’s effort.

Chelsea struggled to cope with Spurs’ threat on the break early on with Olivia Holdt having an effort saved by Hampton after just seven minutes, before she smashed an effort against the crossbar after a sublime run from inside her own half.

Holdt was instrumental for Spurs and created another golden chance after 21 minutes. Her cross found Julie Blakstad at the back post who looked certain to score. However, she could not guide the free header goalwards. Five minutes later Blakstad fired a ball across to England in the six yard box, but she could not keep the volley down.

However, it would be Chelsea that would strike first, six minutes before the break. A corner crossed low into the box broke to Walsh 18 yards out, who made no mistake as she lashed home to put her side ahead. That goal was the midfielder’s second goal of the season, the first being the winner against Spurs at Kingsmeadow.

It did not take long in the second half for Chelsea to double their lead. Erin Cuthbert’s first effort was denied by Lize Kop but the ball fell straight to Thompson who rifled home.

Chelsea were much better in the second half and could have scored more. Naomi Girma saw her effort from four yards out saved by Kop. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd had the best chance to make it three a minute before the end as she went through on goal. However, as she tried to go round the Spurs keeper, the ball was taken from her.

After bouncing back from their defeat’s to Manchester City and Arsenal, Bompastor’s side are now back into the top three and nine points behind WSL leaders Manchester City with seven games to play.