Champion Chelsea got its Women’s Super League campaign underway with a 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Friday, but it endured a nervy final 20 minutes after an own goal by defender Niamh Charles, reports Sportstar.
The home side broke the deadlock in the 31st minute as Ellie Carpenter, a close-season signing from French side Olympique Lyonnais, swept up the right wing before squaring the ball for striker Aggie Beever-Jones to steer home.
City’s Alex Greenwood came close to levelling in the 36th minute but, with Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton beaten, her powerful left-footed free kick thumped off the crossbar.
It was to prove a costly miss as Wieke Kaptein got away from Greenwood in the 64th minute before sending a perfect pass through the middle for Maika Hamano to drill past her Japanese international teammate Ayaka Yamashita.
Chelsea’s Charles threw the visitor a lifeline when she steered the ball into her own net six minutes later, but though City piled on the pressure, it couldn’t find another goal.
The evening ended on an even lower note for City when Greenwood and Lily Murphy both had to be replaced after suffering injuries late on, leaving Chelsea to celebrate a winning start as it seeks a seventh league title in a row.
Chelsea begins WSL campaign with 2-1 win over City
LONDON, SEP 6 (AGENCIES)