Champs up Bright and early for Shield
MILLIE BRIGHT’S 30-yard rocket lit up Wembley as Emma Hayes’ Blues put one over their Super League rivals in the Women’s Community Shield.
The centre-half netted a thumping right-foot drive midway through the second half before sub Erin Cuthbert settled matters in injury time, to give last season’s champions an early psychological boost.
Chelsea made the most of Jill Scott’s 62nd-minute red card to get their hands on the trophy after a 12-year drought.
Hayes said: “I see it from Millie every day.
“It might be a surprise to others but not to me.
“She works so hard at her game. It wasn’t a coincidence. She is a top, top player.”
It was a good job for Chelsea, though, that the defender managed to find a way to goal because Aussie ace Sam Kerr – who joined the club on a
£6,000-a-week deal last term – fluffed six chances including three sitters.
Hayes saw it differently and added: “Sam ran well for the team, she caused problems, created chances. She’s been doing well and I’m not disappointed with anything she did.”
City boss Gareth Taylor called Scott’s sending-off – for her second bookable offence following a foul on Ji So-Yun – “a real game-changer”.
He said: “There really wasn’t much in it – until then I thought it was quite close. Both teams had decent chances.”
Hayes added: “It’s a testament to the club that we have players who can play anywhere in the world and I’m working with them.”
Berger 6; Mjelde 6, Bright 8, Eriksson 7, Andersson 6 (Fleming 90th); Leupolz 7, Ingle 6, So-Yun 7, Kirby 7, (Cuthbert (71st) 6); Kerr 4 (England (71st)
5) Reiten 6 (Charles 88th)
Roebuck 6; Morgan 6, Bonner
6, Houghton 6 Stokes 5; Scott 6, Walsh 6, Weir 5, (Mewis (68th) 6) Kelly 5; Stanway
6, (White 83rd) Hemp 6 (Beckie (26th) 5) R Welch