After Chelsea Women walloped Leicester City in the FA Cup, the stadium announcer played the Magnificent Seven theme to reflect the scoreline.
But the match – like this weekend’s impending Conti Cup final in which the Blues face Manchester City at Wimbledon’s new stadium – has been overshadowed by war on European soil.
Manager Emma Hayes is one of the six trustees of the Chelsea Foundation to have been handed ‘stewardship’ of the club to avoid any risk of owner Roman Abramovich discovering his asset frozen.
Interestingly, his statement was being prepared just as Chelsea Women were getting ready to thrash Leicester 7-0 last weekend. Hayes had her feet up in her tiny office at Kingsmeadow, watching the opening salvoes in the Leeds v Spurs match!
Foxes defender Sophie Howard’s sending-off, early in the match, made the result a foregone conclusion, but it was still a majestic second-half performance by the Blues.
They were joined by Russian defender Alsu Abdullina, who was brought on as a Chelsea sub in the 71st minute. The crowd’s reaction was interesting – the 2,723 who were present cheered her name, acknowledging that ordinary Russian citizens have no say in what an unhinged dictator might be doing.
Abdullina herself had an excellent 20 minutes, scurrying up the left wing in place on Jonna Andersson, and tormenting the Foxes with a series of excellent crosses.
She looks very promising. Hayes said after signing her in December that there are very few left-sided defenders of her class, and it’s looking like she’s spot-on.
Abdullina brings pace and strength to the left flank, overlapping and sprinting into danger areas, while tracking back on the gallop as well.
Hayes said she had absolutely no qualms about using the Russian in the game, and the dressing room has enveloped her in support, despite the dreadful events engulfing Europe.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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