Wieke Kaptein’s eye-catching strike was not enough to prevent Chelsea from dropping their first points under Sonia Bompastor in a 1-1 draw with Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
The Foxes led through a 20th minute counter-attack finished off by Missy Goodwin, but Kaptein levelled with 14 minutes remaining as Amandine Miquel’s side were denied a memorable upset.
The Lineups
CHE: Hampton; Bronze, Björn, Bright, Lawrence; Nüsken, Kaptein; Kaneryd, Hamano, Reiten; Ramírez
LEI: Leitzig; Ale, Howard, Kees, Thibaud; Cayman, Mace; Rose, Momiki, Cain; Takarada
The Action
The Foxes led through a 20th minute counter-attack finished off by Missy Goodwin, but Kaptein levelled with 14 minutes remaining as Amandine Miquel’s side were denied a memorable upset.
Goodwin was introduced from the bench when Leicester’s mounting injury worries were compounded after just eight minutes, Deanne Rose limping down the tunnel after a strong tackle from Lucy Bronze.
With the Foxes briefly down to ten as Goodwin scrambled to come on, Guro Reiten found space in the penalty area but volleyed high and wide from Maika Hamano’s cross.
Reiten would then strike the crossbar from range after Mayra Ramirez’s heavy touch fell invitingly for the Norwegian to try her luck. Millie Bright took inspiration a few minutes later, but narrowly missed the target from her own long-range attempt.
However, Leicester were rewarded for surviving the early pressure when a flowing counter-attack was finished off by Goodwin at the back post to give the Foxes a surprise lead after just 20 minutes. Asmita Ale drove into the penalty area and Goodwin had time and space to settle herself and drive the ball past Hampton.
Miquel’s side had netted just twice in the WSL before Saturday lunchtime, but did put five goals past Championship high-flyers Birmingham City in midweek in their final League Cup group outing.
The home side would put Chelsea hearts in mouths again when Hampton fumbled a deep cross on her goal line, eventually claiming the ball under pressure from Janice Cayman.
Chelsea’s search for an equaliser was stunted by Leicester’s stubborn low block, which kept chances at a premium for the champions. The Foxes continued to find joy in behind, particularly when targeting Lucy Bronze on the left wing.
Ramirez was able to send a low ball across goal but Janina Leitzig got down well to claim it, as Leicester preserved their lead into half-time.
Chelsea boss Bompastor made two changes at the interval, with Catarina Macario and Niamh Charles introduced for Hamano and Ashley Lawrence. Leicester had to withstand a barrage of corners and crosses before finding a foothold in the game again, as Chelsea threw bodies forward.
The Foxes continued to hold firm in defence and nullify an attack that looked flat and short of ideas. A Chelsea corner broke kindly for Sjoeke Nusken, but her shot was miscued high into the North Stand.
Substitute Aggie Beever-Jones glanced an effort wide before Macario headed straight at Leitzig. Chelsea’s equaliser finally came in the 78th minute, Kaptein allowed to run through midfield unopposed and pick out the far corner with a fine finish.
Ramirez then stung the palms of Leitzig as Chelsea pursued all three points, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd powering a header over from the resulting corner.
Leitzig and her defence continued to defend with their lives, and breathed a sigh of relief when Nusken couldn’t hit the target from inside the box deep into injury time.
Leicester were able to hold onto a hard-fought draw to move one point above bottom side Crystal Palace, who play Manchester United tomorrow.
Chelsea only came into their own following Kaptein’s leveller, and missed the opportunity to become the first side to win their first ten WSL games.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Asmita Ale
Tough not to give Kaptein the accolade with the midfielder adding her goal to an impressive display, but Leicester’s left-back gave absolutely everything after assisting Goodwin’s strike.
