The Blues have remained unbeaten, tallying four wins and a draw in their first five matches of the league.
In a commanding display at the Poundland Bescot Stadium, Chelsea maintained their unblemished record in the Women’s Super League by steamrolling Aston Villa.
The scoring spectacle began with Millie Bright and Fran Kirby, who gave Chelsea a comfortable lead by the interval. The goal fest continued in the second half with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Ashley Lawrence, Aggie Beever-Jones, and Niamh Charles adding to the dismay of Carla Ward’s squad, who find themselves anchored to the bottom of the standings, still in search of their first points this season.
The pressure is mounting on Ward after such a disheartening loss, while Chelsea, sitting proudly at the top, have chalked up four victories and a single draw so far.
Coming into the weekend’s fixtures tied in points with Manchester City, who are yet to face Arsenal, Emma Hayes’ reigning champs were eager to set the bar high.
Chelsea made their intentions clear, despite Manchester City and Arsenal’s championship ambitions, with a performance on Saturday that sent a clear signal to their rivals.
Aston Villa kicked off with vigor, pressing high up the pitch, but Chelsea quickly took charge. Rytting Kaneryd’s early strike called Villa’s keeper, Daphne van Domselaar, into action, with Danielle Turner coming to the rescue shortly after.
Kirby nearly added a sensational goal, but her shot kissed the bar and stayed out. Villa’s Rachel Daly then squandered a golden chance created by Kirsty Hanson’s cross, blasting over from close quarters.
Chelsea’s breakthrough came on the 21-minute mark, as Villa struggled to fend off a corner and Bright, on her milestone 250th appearance, unleashed a volley into the net.
The Blues found their groove and soon after, Kirby tucked away a second goal, indicating the start of a dominant phase. Right before the half-time whistle, van Domselaar narrowly prevented Chelsea from widening the gap, parrying away attempts from both Fleming and Kirby.
Kirby’s goal was disallowed for offside early in the second half, but that did not deter Chelsea. Rytting Kaneryd continued her impressive run, finally getting her name on the scoresheet and signaling Chelsea’s escalating control of the game.
The Blues’ attacking onslaught didn’t let up. Lawrence, coming off the bench, found herself free to score, followed by Beever-Jones who slalomed in from the left flank for Chelsea’s fifth. Charles then rounded off the scoring fest, recording her season’s first goal, and cementing Chelsea’s resounding triumph.
Chelsea Flourish Without Kerr
Despite a disappointing season for Villa, on paper, they seemed poised to challenge Chelsea’s mettle. The decision by Hayes to bench star striker Sam Kerr could have been questioned if Chelsea’s attack faltered. However, the visitors were simply irresistible, as evidenced early on when Kirby rattled the crossbar.
Kerr’s absence on the field was hardly felt, as Chelsea sliced through Villa’s defense with ease in the latter half. The team didn’t seem to miss the presence of Guro Reiten or Lauren James either, showcasing their dynamic attack.
Hayes will undoubtedly take pride in the diversity of goal scorers, while Rytting Kaneryd’s inexhaustible energy and her relentless challenge to the defenders were instrumental in a victory that spells out Chelsea’s unwavering form this season.
Match Details at a Glance
Team Line-ups
Aston Villa Women vs. Chelsea Women
Possession
Villa: 45% | Chelsea: 55%
Attempts on Goal
Villa: 7 | Chelsea: 27
Shots on Target
Villa: 2 | Chelsea: 14
Corner Kicks
Villa: 5 | Chelsea: 5
Fouls Committed
Villa: 2 | Chelsea: 3
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Chelsea WSL unbeaten run
Who were the goal scorers in Chelsea’s victory over Aston Villa?
Millie Bright, Fran Kirby, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Ashley Lawrence, Aggie Beever-Jones, and Niamh Charles each scored for Chelsea in their emphatic 6-0 win over Aston Villa.
What does Chelsea’s win over Aston Villa mean for their WSL season?
Chelsea’s 6-0 win over Aston Villa solidifies their position at the top of the Women’s Super League table, maintaining their unbeaten start with four wins and a draw in their first five games.
How did Chelsea manage without their key player Sam Kerr against Aston Villa?
Despite resting Sam Kerr, Chelsea demonstrated their depth and quality, with a resounding victory where their attacking prowess shone through, proving they have multiple threats on the pitch.
What record did Millie Bright achieve in the game against Aston Villa?
Millie Bright celebrated her 250th appearance for Chelsea by scoring a goal, contributing to their significant victory over Aston Villa.
What is the significance of Chelsea’s performance against Aston Villa for Emma Hayes?
The victory and the manner in which multiple players stepped up to score is a testament to Emma Hayes’ effective management and Chelsea’s cohesive team dynamics, highlighting their strong campaign to retain the championship.
More about Chelsea WSL unbeaten run
- Chelsea Women’s Super League 2023 Campaign
- Emma Hayes’ Tactical Mastery in WSL
- WSL Table and Season Stats
- Player Milestones: Millie Bright’s 250th Game
- Chelsea FC Women’s Team Roster and Player Profiles
5 comments
its been a rough start to the season for us villa fans. where’s the defense? we really need to sort it out before it’s too late…
did you see Kirby’s finish? pure class! Chelsea’s looking unstoppable, man city’s gotta step up tomorrow or its gonna be a blues season again
wow, Chelsea ladies are on fire this season! what a game to watch. Aston Villa didn’t stand a chance, did they?
Millie Bright celebrating 250 games with a goal, absolute legend. Chelsea’s depth is just too good, who needs Kerr when you got a team full of superstars?
Gotta feel for Villa, but you can’t be giving chances like that to a team like Chelsea. tough lessons being learned the hard way this season…