Chelsea survived a second half combat again from a gutsy Studying to make sure they completed 2022 high of the WSL after a 3-2 victory at a snowy Kingsmeadow on Sunday.
A Fran Kirby objective and a Jelana Cankovic brace had given the Blues a snug 3-0 lead on the break, just for Studying to attain twice within the area of two second half minutes by Sanne Troelsgaard Nielsen and Amalie Eikeland to arrange a grandstand end.
A fairytale equaliser couldn’t be discovered, however Kelly Chambers’ facet had a lot to be happy with regardless of in the end leaving west London empty handed.
Studying went toe to toe with Chelsea in a aggressive opening quarter of an hour. Gemma Evans popped up with a objective line block to disclaim Cankovic because the WSL’s third from backside facet held agency, whereas carrying a menace on the counter assault.
Nevertheless, the impasse was damaged after 16 minutes following a wise little bit of considering from Cankovic, as she fed Johanna Rytting Kaneryd with a shortly taken free kick. The ball was squared to, Kirby who coolly completed. Studying have been left aggrieved as replays confirmed Rytting Kaneryd to be offside within the construct up.
Rytting Kaneryd was once more concerned as Chelsea doubled their lead simply earlier than the half hour mark. Her fizzing effort cannoned off the cross bar, Studying didn’t clear and Cankovic reacted quickest to fireside house.
The Blues added a 3rd 4 minutes later, Sophie Ingle and Fran Kirby concerned in a flowing group transfer, Erin Cuthbert offering a cross from the suitable and Cankovic wrapping up her fairly good first half by powering house a header.
With Chelsea main 3-0 on the break, you feared the floodgates may open and it might be a case of harm limitation for Studying. The alternative occurred, and the Royals as an alternative launched into an unlikely comeback.
Studying pulled one again after an hour, Millie Vivid turning the full of life Emma Harries’s cross into the trail of Troelsgaard Nielsen, whose effort squirmed by the gloves of Ann-Katrin Berger.
Studying actually started to make Chelsea sweat as they netted a second only a minute later. Harries was once more within the coronary heart of the motion, getting the higher of Niamh Charles and feeding Eikeland, who poked house. Sport on, with half an hour left on the clock.
The dogged Royals threw every part at Chelsea as they looked for what can be a outstanding equaliser, however the Blues managed to see the sport out to make sure they sit high of the pile heading into 2023.
GK: Ann-Katrin Berger – 5/10 – Allowed the ball to squirm underneath her physique for Studying’s first, having hardly had a save to make within the opening 45.
RB: Eve Perisset – 7/10 – Linked up very well with Rytting Kaneryd, and the suitable flank was a relentless supply of hazard for Chelsea.
CB: Millie Vivid – 6/10 – Stretched to make an necessary interception and hold out a Harries cross within the first half. Her distribution and cross discipline passes have been distinctive. Fluffed a clearance which led to Studying’s second.
CB: Magdalena Eriksson – 6/10 – Again in a extra pure centre again function following a spell at left again. Noticed the ball performed in behind herself and Charles for Studying’s first, struggling to deal with the tempo of Harries.
LB: Niamh Charles – 6/10 – A tireless efficiency – up and down the left flank, sensible and environment friendly in possession. Had a troublesome time defensively within the second half, shedding out to Harries within the construct as much as Studying’s second.
CM: Sophie Ingle – 7/10 – Gained the ball again within the construct as much as Chelsea’s second and third objective, springing the counter assault for the third.
CM: Erin Cuthbert – 7/10 – Supplied the pinpoint cross for Chelsea’s third objective after combining properly with Kirby. Sliced an effort from vary narrowly large late within the first half.
CM: Jelena Cankovic – 8/10 – Loved a superb first half efficiency, taking the shortly taken free kick for her facet’s first, and on the scoresheet with a low drive and bullet header. Oozed confidence all through – not a nasty first WSL begin.
RW: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – 8/10 – Had a hand in Chelsea’s first and second objective, choosing out Kirby and cracking the submit with a fizzing drive.
ST: Bethany England – 6/10 – Put in a giant shift up high, however unable to get on the scoresheet, being denied by an Evans block within the first half. Changed with 20 minutes remaining.
LW: Fran Kirby – 8/10 – Opened the scoring towards her former membership with a wise end, concerned within the third after linking up with Cuthbert.
SUB: Jess Carter (67′ for Charles) – 6/10
SUB: Sam Kerr (70′ for England) – 6/10
SUB: Jessie Fleming (70′ for Cankovic) – 6/10
SUB: Guro Reiten (81′ for Rytting Kaneryd) – 6/10
GK: Jackie Burns – 6/10 – Claimed a few probably harmful crosses, and could not do an excellent deal about any of Chelsea’s targets.
RB: Faye Bryson – 5/10 – Had a little bit of a troublesome time of it towards the relentless Kirby and Charles.
CB: Deanne Cooper – 6/10 – Made a heroic diving block to maintain out a second half Cuthbert effort. A full blooded efficiency towards her former membership.
CB: Gemma Evans – 6/10 – Within the thick of the motion: made an excellent objective line block to maintain out Cankovic within the early exchanges, however didn’t clear her strains for Chelsea’s second, earlier than making one other courageous block to disclaim England.
LB: Lily Woodham – 6/10 – Struggled to deal with Chelsea’s harmful proper flank of Perisset and Rytting Kaneryd at occasions within the first half, however dug in and was significantly extra resolute within the second as Studying actually pissed off the Blues.
DM: Justine Vanhaevermaet – 7/10 – Noticed a sweetly struck effort fly narrowly over within the first half. Broke up play successfully.
CM: Tia Primmer – 5/10 – Did not clear her strains within the construct as much as Chelsea’s second. A tenacious efficiency towards Chelsea’s dynamic midfield three. Pressured off with damage earlier than the hour mark.
CM: Sanne Troelsgaard Nielsen – 7/10 – Netted her facet’s first, reacting quickest to the unfastened ball and seeing her effort squirm underneath Berger.
CM: Amalie Eikeland – 7/10 – Timed her run to perfection to linger on the sting of the field and poke house her facet’s second. An actual supply of hazard all through, driving her group ahead.
ST: Lauren Wade – 6/10 – A relentless shift up entrance as Studying’s entrance two requested loads of questions of the Chelsea backline. Changed with quarter-hour remaining.
ST: Emma Harries – 8/10 – Carried a menace on the break and instrumental in Studying’s first and second objective with a burst down the suitable flank and low supply.
SUB: Rachel Rowe (57′ for Primmer) – 7/10
SUB: Emma Mukandi (67′ for Bryson) – 6/10
SUB: Charlie Wellings (75′ for Wade) – 6/10
