- Chelsea began their WSL title defence in good vogue in opposition to Aston Villa
- Johanna Rytting Kaneryd earned Sonia Bompastor a primary win as Blues boss
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A collective sigh of aid appeared to echo round Kingsmeadow as Chelsea collected their first three factors of the post-Emma Hayes period.
Sonia Bompastor, the girl entrusted to interchange one of many sport’s best managers, was given a heat welcome on a balmy night time beneath the lights right here on the outskirts of London.
Moving into the sneakers of a large – and that’s merely what the 14-time main trophy winner Hayes is – generally is a daunting job. Simply ask David Moyes or Arne Slot after final weekend’s defeat at Anfield.
And this Aston Villa facet got here decided to win their first factors on this fixture having misplaced to Chelsea in all eight of their earlier conferences.
The guests had been quietly spectacular within the first half. The early indicators indicated they may very well be swallowed up entire by the event, however they managed to navigate by a nervy opening jiffy – together with a giant miss by Chelsea’s Guro Reitein – to achieve a foothold.
Reigning champions Chelsea obtained their Ladies’s Tremendous League title defence off to an ideal begin with a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa
Sonia Bompastor (pictured) earned her first victory since changing into Blues boss in the summertime
Swedish winger Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (left) scored the one purpose of the match with a chic end
New signing Missy Bo Kearns appeared harmful within the Quantity 10 position, linking up effectively with Chasity Grant on the correct wing. Grant ought to have put Villa forward halfway by the primary half, nevertheless it was Kearns who discovered herself blocking her teammates shot.
Chelsea broke the impasse within the thirty sixth minute by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, who obtained the ball on the sting of the field, reduce on to her left foot and curled a long-range shot previous Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo.
Villa continued to maintain the house facet at bay for a lot of the second half, holding the bigger share of the possession however in the end struggling to pose any real menace to Hannah Hampton’s purpose.
This was partially because of Chelsea’s strong defence, the place Millie Brilliant and Kadeisha Buchanan made a formidable partnership in entrance of their goalkeeper, whereas new right-back Lucy Bronze introduced a calmness to the again line.
Undoubtedly harder challenges lie forward for Bompastor. No supervisor has ever gained the WSL of their first season in cost and the 44-year-old will face sterner exams than an Aston Villa facet additionally navigating change beneath new head coach Robert de Pauw.
They introduced her in for her expertise profitable the Champions League at Lyon, the one trophy that evaded Hayes, and the way she fares in Europe’s elite competitors with this skilled squad will most likely outline her tenure greater than something.
New right-back Lucy Bronze (left) introduced a calmness to Chelsea’s again line in opposition to Villa
New signing Missy Bo Kearns (left) appeared harmful within the Quantity 10 position as Chelsea surged ahead
However the WSL is actually a precedence. Chelsea made historical past final season after they clinched their fifth consecutive title on the final day of the season, and it’s theirs to lose. Particularly contemplating the personnel they’ve of their ranks and the brand new recruits they’ve made this summer season, together with five-time Champions League winner Bronze.
The 32-year-old famous to Mail Sport final week that Chelsea has felt like a ‘totally different universe’ since her arrival from Barcelona. However the Lionesses star appeared proper at residence at Kingsmeadow, barking orders at her teammates and making her attribute surges down the correct flank.
As the sport stretched on and Chelsea had been unable to increase their lead, it’s the expertise of somebody like Bronze that they are going to lean on this season. Bronze and the trusty palms of Hampton, who managed to maintain out two deadly headers – one from Rachel Daly and the opposite from Villa goalkeeper D’Angelo – within the dying moments of the sport.
Solely time will inform if Bompastor can reside as much as the weighty expectations of the perennial champions, however three factors on the primary sport of the season is certainly a great place to begin.
