Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
There were a couple of takeaways from Chelsea Women's first home game of the new WSL season.
Disappointed fans learned they could no longer have selfies taken with their favourite footballers or autographs signed after matches at Kingsmeadow – the women's game is becoming so popular now with sell-out crowds that there are security concerns for the players.
The other was that the competition has just got a lot harder.
Aston Villa, who finished in seventh place in the league last season, held their own against the champions.
If it wasn't for two stoppage time, match-winning saves by Blues goalie Hannah Hampton - one from her opposite number Sabrina D'Angelo who had run up to the other end of the pitch for a free-kick - they would have equalised.
Thankfully Hampton was the hero of the hour and not only saved Villa striker Rachel Daly's long-range header on the line, but tipped D'Angelo's effort on to the crossbar.
As it was, Sonia Bompastor's team held on for a 1-0 victory thanks to a superlative first-half strike from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd - the talented, pacey and nimble-footed Swedish winger who sold Villa's defenders a dummy – first going one way, then the other – then rifling home with her left foot – something she had practised in training said the Blues new coach.
Bompastor, reflecting on her first WSL game after taking over from the legendary Emma Hayes, said: "It's always important to start with a win. We were at home at Kingsmeadow with the fans, so this will bring some confidence to the players and to the team.
"For me it was a really special night; it was really lovely - a really warm welcome. I will try to do my best to make the fans happy."
With that in mind the Chelsea faithful will be hoping that they will be returning home with a spring in their step after their next game away against Crystal Palace (Fri 27 Sept) and for the much-anticipated high noon showdown against Manchester United at home at Kingsmeadow (Sun 6 Oct).
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
