Chelsea Women 2-1 Everton Women
Brighton Men 3-0 Chelsea Men
As they head into another international break, Chelsea fans are still having palpitations after a hard-fought Women's Super League clash with Everton.
A last-gasp shot at the end of stoppage time, fired by Lauren James from outside the area, clinched a 2-1 win against the Toffees, when most supporters at Kingsmeadow were reluctantly resigned to accepting a draw.
That would have narrowed the gap at the top of the table to five points on Man Utd, and eight points on supercharged Arsenal, who walloped their north London rivals Spurs 5-0 at the weekend, and seem to be on a roll.
Instead, Sonia Bompastor's team have held on to a seven-point cushion as the players scatter to fulfil their countries' duties. Darn near everyone is disappearing from Chelsea... except Erin Cuthbert, who will stay at the Cobham training ground for additional treatment to a knock to her ribs which has been causing her pain.
"Sometimes it's good for the emotions; to fight until the end," said Bompastor at a lively post-match press conference. "It's always difficult to play the same team twice, especially when their coach has had a chance to analyse the last game."
Everton's defence was solid. The first half finished 0-0, with the Toffees' defenders collecting bruise after bruise as they heroically blocked shot after shot from the Blues' front runners.
Toffees stand firm – until they don't
Six minutes after the interval, the lofty Kelly Gago – rapidly developing into a striker with the firepower and determination of City's Bunny Shaw – shocked the home team by sweeping a majestic shot high over Hannah Hampton and into the net.
Cue major changes to the Chelsea line-up, with Maika Hamano, Lucy Bronze and Wieke Kaptein introduced for Cat Macario, Sjoeke Nusken and Ashley Lawrence.
It had a transformative effect on the effort by a frustrated Chelsea, with Mayra Ramirez re-energised. Barely five minutes after the changes, she spun on a sixpence and fired home an equaliser.
What was most telling on the afternoon was the way that three Chelsea players sprinted into the Everton goal to retrieve the ball and get on with the task of finding a winner.
The football boot was suddenly on the other foot, and the Blues took command of the game with repeated waves of inventive, attacking football. And yet the Toffees stood firm.
Niamh Charles and Aggie Beever-Jones came on for Jo Rytting Kaneryd and impressive new defender Maelys Mpome. Full time came and went. Four extra minutes were indicated, and still Chelsea couldn't break down the gritty Everton defence.
Then, with seconds remaining, Lauren James cushioned a cross from Sandy Baltimore and chanced her luck from 25 yards. The shot eluded Courtney Brosnan in the Toffees' goal. Everton manager Brian Sørensen and Brosnan herself were both booked in the aftermath by ref Phoebe Cross, for protesting too strongly about a supposed foul committed by James just ahead of her winner.
So, twice in a week Everton took the lead against Chelsea, and twice the Blues clawed their way back. Was it, I asked Bompastor, a case of that quaint old English term 'déjà vu'?
With a grin, the French manager confirmed it was indeed, adding that she still believed her side could win right up to the last half minute of stoppage time, based on her overwhelmingly positive attitude.
Bompastor, who blamed tired legs (after an intense run of eight games) for the dull-as-ditchwater goalless first half, takes a short family break to France, and returns with the players to face Brighton away on 2 March.
Worst performance under Maresca?
Meanwhile the men's stagnant form continues with two defeats on the trot, in cup and league, to the Seagulls. Manager Enzo Maresca was unhappy with his team after the Blues' second capitulation in a week to Brighton.
The latest 3-0 defeat left Maresca declaring: "Since I arrived, that is the worst performance." He apologised to fans. But simply saying sorry and confirming that the team needs to show more desire is not enough to address supporters' frustration as Chelsea prepare to travel up to Villa Park this Saturday.
The Blues urgently need a plan B for the occasions when plan A clearly isn't working, but the only alternative strategy appears to be to plough on with plan A to the final whistle, and hope for a miracle.
Tired legs can't be to blame for Chelsea men's depressing run. After all, there are enough legs in the squad to fill two teamsheets.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
