FROM TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM: A heavily rotated Chelsea side were able to scrape a 1-0 victory over Tottenham thanks to a textbook taken penalty by Catarina Macario.
Four days after being crowned WSL Champions for the sixth consecutive time, Sonia Bompastor’s side travelled to Whitehart Lane to continue their quest to become invincible.
Chelsea’s heavy rotation was obvious as the game commenced, with Tottenham coming out the better of the two sides in the opening stages. However, a smooth penalty from Catarina Macario gave the Blues the lead before the stroke of half time.
The victory in north London means that only the final day meeting with Liverpool stands in the way of Chelsea becoming invincible in the WSL this season.
The Lineups
TOT: Kop; Morris, Hunt, Bartrip, Neville; Summanen, Spence, Holdt; Naz, England, Grant
CHE: Hampton; Lawrence, Mpomé, Nüsken, Reiten; Jean-François, Cuthbert; Hamano, Macario, Rytting Kaneryd; Fishel
The Action
Tottenham started in full stride, placing immediate pressure on the makeshift Chelsea defence. Bethany England drove forward down the left channel, before delivering a low cross into the area. Charli Grant made the right run to meet the cross, but Hannah Hampton’s timed advance meant it was dealt with swiftly by the English goalkeeper.
Spurs worked for another golden opportunity in the 24th minute as Ashleigh Neville capitalised on a mistake from Rytting Kaneryd and drove possession up the wing. Beating Lawrence for pace, the defender cut her cross back to Olivia Holdt who had her strike blocked by a hard-tracking Erin Cuthbert.
Despite the unlikely swing of momentum in favour of the north London side, it was Chelsea who broke the deadlock after Catarina Macario was brought down on the edge of the area. The American forward stepped up and slotted home her strike into the left corner with ease.
Spurs had the opportunity to draw terms level as a blundered play from Maelys Mpomé set Grant through on goal. Taking far too long to line up her strike, the Australian was shut down by an advancing Hannah Hampton at the death.
Maika Hamano was eager to double Chelsea’s advantage in the early stages of the second half before a stretching save from Lize Kop denied the midfielder’s long-range strike.
Lize Kop denied Chelsea of a second in the dying minutes of the fixture, after a fantastic double-save denied Nüsken a goal.
Macario’s early goal was enough for the Blues to scrape the three points in north London, now just one fixture away from becoming invincible.
Tottenham Player Ratings
Lize Kop – 8/10 – Despite conceding the penalty, Kop’s performance was incredibly strong. A strong save to deny Hamano from range was topped off by a stellar double block to save Spurs from conceding once more at the death. Paired with Morris, Kop has been Tottenham’s signing of the season.
Ella Morris – 8/10 – Did very well to help Grant overload Guro Reiten’s channel as the Norwegian was out of position. Did not stop until the final whistle blew, a bright spark for Spurs.
Clare Hunt – 7/10 – With Bartrip, a strong defensive showing. Made some mistakes in possession but was not caught out for those moments.
Molly Bartrip – 8/10 – A really strong performance from the Spurs vice captain. Fans hardly heard from Fishel in the opening half and she managed to retain that strength as Chelsea rotated.
Ashleigh Neville – 7/10 – Did the job on Rytting Kaneryd but suffered under Macario’s pressure when the American floated into the channel. A disappointing moment to give away the penalty at a time where Tottenham was the better of the two sides.
Eveliina Summanen – 6/10 – Cuthbert got the better of the midfield battle and Summanen struggled to insert her usual physical dominance into the contest.
Drew Spence – 6/10 – A quiet performance, neither great nor poor.
Olivia Holdt – 6/10 – Lacked her usual creative edge but was getting in the right spaces.
Charlotte Grant – 7/10 – Got the better of Chelsea’s makeshift Reiten at left back, but lacked the clinical edge when it mattered. Despite the missed chances, Grant was integral to Tottenham’s press and maintained her energy.
Jessica Naz – 5/10 – A weak display from Naz, struggling to capitalise on the rotated Chelsea back four.
Bethany England – 7/10- The Tottenham captain’s work rate is the best of the bunch, leading the press with Grant in order to try and locate Chelsea’s weaknesses. But, not to be in front of goal today for the former Blue.
Matilda Vinberg (60′ for Grant) – 5/10 – All pace, no end product.
Amanda Nildén (70′ for Neville) – N/A
Martha Thomas (70′ for Olivia Holdt) – N/A
Lenna Gunning-Williams (93′ for Naz) – N/A
Chelsea Player Ratings
Hannah Hampton – 7/10 – Strong as ever, but wasn’t prescribed a difficult task as Tottenham only had one shot on target for the game. A fantastic block to deny Grant of the equaliser. Would have scored higher if she was asked to do more.
Ashley Lawrence – 6/10 – Bethany England often got the better of her, but she did well to nullify Jess Naz who was hardly present.
Maelys Mpomé – 6/10 – Not a standout display but her composure will arrive with time.
Sjoeke Nüsken – 8/10 – Perhaps the most versatile player in the WSL, Nüsken can play wherever she is need for Chelsea. Did the heavy lifting in the makeshift back four and was strong on the ball when she was later brought forward into midfield.
Guro Reiten – 6/10 – Struggled out of position but grew as the game went on. Cutting into this performance with a surgical knife wouldn’t be worth the energy as Guro Reiten at left back likely isn’t a situation we will see often.
Erin Cuthbert – 7/10 – A complete work horse in the central areas, Cuthbert nullified nearly all of Tottenham’s attacking threat down the spine. Plays for the badge every time she steps foot on the grass, and today was no different.
Oriane Jean-François – 7/10 – Solid display in the midfield areas, doing well to nullify Tottenham’s midfield group.
Maika Hamano – 6/10 – Not her best afternoon but she had bright moments. Lacked her usual composure on the ball but that can rightly be explained by the heavily-rotated nature of the squad.
Catarina Macario – 8/10 – Chelsea’s best player and not only because she scored the goal. Connected the defence with the attacking line well and aided Fishel when necessary. A strong finish to give Chelsea the victory.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – 5/10 – Very quiet.
Mia Fishel – 4/10 – Struggled to get into the game.
Wieke Kaptein (53′ for Fishel) – 7/10 –Immediate impact to offer an advanced level of threat in the central areas.
Naomi Girma (60′ for Cuthbert) – N/A
Nathalie Björn (60′ for Mpomé) – N/A
Lola Brown (76′ for Macario) – N/A
Aggie Beever-Jones (76′ for Hamano) – N/A
